ISOL beams from fragmentation: the best of both worlds Original Research Article

A new method, based on in-flight fragment separation, stopping of the fragments as singly-charged ions in a large helium gas cell, and fast extraction, allows for a breakthrough in capabilities for the production of a broad range of radioactive beams. The scheme combines the intrinsic advantages of in-flight fragmentation, short delay times and universality, with those of the ISOL concept, high-quality beams of precise energy. A key component of this approach is the large stopping gas cell which utilizes DC and RF electric fields to quickly guide the radioactive ions to the exit of the cell. A prototype for this cell has been successfully built and tested at Argonne.