Laser spectroscopic studies of hafnium ions confined in a Paul trap

A Paul trap has been constructed for laser spectroscopic studies of the isotope shifts (IS) and hyperfine structures (hfs) of radioactive isotopes. With a sample placed near the inner surface of the ring electrode, the target atoms are evaporated by a Nd:YAG laser pulse, and then selectively ionized inside the trap by a synchronized dye laser pulse through resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS). A cw beam from a ring dye laser is used to probe the ions, and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is monitored for spectroscopic measurements. The stored ions can also be analyzed by the ion-ejection time-of-flight spectrum. With an ultra-high vacuum base pressure, Hf ion storage times of one hour can be readily achieved by introducing H...