Mainz 2026 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 15: Precision Mass Spectrometry (joint session MS/Q)
Q 15.2: Talk
Monday, March 2, 2026, 17:30–17:45, N 6
A Laser-Ablation Ion Source for the ISOLTRAP Experiment — •Paul Florian Giesel for the ISOLTRAP collaboration — Universität Greifswald, Institut für Physik, Greifswald, Germany
ISOLTRAP is a precision mass spectrometer at ISOLDE/CERN dedicated to measure the masses of short-lived radionuclides far from stability. It utilizes both multi-reflection time-of-flight (MR-ToF) [1] and Penning-trap mass spectrometry [2-4]. Conversion of the resulting mass values into nuclear binding energies provides insights into the underlying nuclear forces and structures.
All measurements at ISOLTRAP rely on suitable reference ions. This contribution will present the laser-ablation ion source (LAIS), developed to supply a versatile set of reference species produced from various target materials, including e.g. carbon-cluster ions or aluminum and bismuth ions. This enables flexible calibration across a broad mass range. Beyond delivering reference ions, this source facilitates characterization studies of the ISOLTRAP setup, which can be performed in combination with an alkali ion source. An example is the investigation of space-charge effects in the MR-ToF analyzer with 13C12C10+ and 133Cs+ ions as well as the formation of hydrides and oxides in the ISOLTRAP RFQ cooler-buncher.
[1] Wolf R. N. et al., Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 349-350:123-133 (2013)
[2] M. König, et al., Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 142, 95 (1995)
[3] S. George, et al., Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 264, 110 (2007)
[4] S. Eliseev, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 082501 (2013)
Keywords: Ion source; MR-ToF MS; Paul Trap; Laser ablation