S. Veronesi

Accurate measurements of transition frequencies and isotope shifts of laser-trapped francium

An interferometric method is used to improve the accuracy of the 7S-7P transition frequencies of three francium isotopes by 1 order of magnitude. The deduced isotope shifts for 209-211Fr confirm the ISOLDE data. The frequency of the D2 transition of 212Fr--the accepted reference for all Fr isotope shifts--is revised, and a significant difference with the ISOLDE value is found. Our results will be a benchmark for the accuracy of the theory of Fr energy levels, a necessary step to investigate fundamental symmetries.

Measurement of diffusion coefficients of francium and rubidium in yttrium based on laser spectroscopy

We report the measurement of the diffusion coefficients of francium and rubidium ions implanted in a yttrium foil. We developed a methodology, based on laser spectroscopy, which can be applied to radioactive and stable species, and allows us to directly take record of the diffusion time. Francium isotopes are produced via fusion-evaporation nuclear reaction of a

Francium sources at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro: Design and performance

^{18}\mathrm{O}

The Legnaro francium magneto-optical trap

beam on a Au target at the Tandem XTU accelerator facility in Legnaro, Italy. Francium is ionized at the gold-vacuum interface and

Light-induced atomic desorption from siloxane film loaded with Rb and Cs

{\mathrm{Fr}}^{+}

Light-induced atomic desorption from PDMS films and porous glass: application and fundamental issues

ions are then transported with an electrostatic beamline to a cell for neutralization and capture in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). A

Prospects for parity violation measurements in cold francium atoms

{\mathrm{Rb}}^{+}

Photo-ejection and transport of alkali atoms embedded in nano-porous silica

beam is also available, which follows the same path as

Laser cooling and trapping of radioactive atoms

{\mathrm{Fr}}^{+}

Fast and efficient loading of a Rb magneto-optical trap using light-induced atomic desorption

ions. The accelerated ions are focused and implanted in an yttrium foil for neutralization. The time evolution of the MOT and the vapor fluorescence signals are used to determine diffusion times of Fr and Rb in Y as a function of temperature.