Application of the laser ion source for isotope shift and hyperfine structure investigation

The study of nuclei far from stability requires high sensitivity of the exp erimental technique. The method of Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy in a L aser Ion Source (RIS/LIS) allows one to carry out measurements of the isoto pe shifts and hyperfine splittings for isotopes at the production rate abou t 10(2) atoms per second. The sensitivity of this method is determined by t he high efficiency of the laser ion source and the low background of the de tection system afforded by characteristic alpha-particle registration. The isotope shifts and hyperfine structures of Yb-155, Tm-154 (I=9 and I=2) and Tm-153 (I=11/2) have been measured and the isotopic changes in mean square charge radii and nuclear electromagnetic moments have been determined. The further development of this experimental method - enhanced Target-Ion S ource system aimed to suppress thermionic background - enables direct detec tion of the photoions and widens the range of the applicability of the RIS/ LIS method.