2024-10-07 - 2024-10-11
Liss Vázquez Rodríguez
CERN / Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
Collinear laser spectroscopy (CLS) is a powerful technique for measuring the properties of ground and isomeric states in short-lived isotopes far from stability. These properties include nuclear spin, electromagnetic moments, and mean-square charge radii, which provide insights into the shape and size of various atomic nuclei. Such measurements have been crucial for discovering and investigating a wide range of phenomena in the complex many-body system of the nucleus. When compared with nuclear theoretical calculations, these measurements guide theoretical modeling and offer stringent benchmarks for modern ab-initio theories, ultimately enhancing our understanding of the nucleon-nucleon interaction.
Short-lived nuclei are created at radioactive facilities using various mechanisms and nuclear reactions. These exotic nuclei, encompassing more than 70 elements to date, are mass-selected and sent to the experimental CLS setups for investigation. Using then CLS, we can detect minute changes in atomic energy levels caused by the specific properties of the nucleus. To observe these tiny shifts, we employ extremely narrow linewidth lasers to probe the relevant atomic transitions.
In this lecture, I will provide an overview of the CLS technique, starting from the production mechanisms used to deliver the exotic species.
