Radioactive molecular ion beam production

The ISOLDE facility at CERN delivers radioactive ion beams through the Isotope Separation Online (ISOL) technique by impinging 1.4-GeV protons onto a thick target. Extraction of highly refractory elements has been proven possible through molecular sidebands i.e. using volatile molecules as carriers to diffuse the element through the source. In addition, radioactive molecules on their own are found to be interesting probes for chemical studies in the heavy-element region, as well as for nuclear, medical, and fundamental physics research. This doctoral project aims at optimising the delivery of molecular ion beams produced with different types of ionisation methods, as well as identifying their purity and composition. The latter will be achieved through mass spectrometry devices present at offline laboratories or online experiments, such as the Multi-Reflection Time- of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MR-ToF MS) at ISOLTRAP. Laser spectroscopy studies on radioactive molecules are also considered. Furthermore, as a member of the CERN- ISOLDE Target and Ion Source Development (TISD) team, I will provide support and participate in experimental campaigns carried out at the ISOLDE facility.