Laser spectroscopy of negative ions

We will measure electron affinities, including isotope shifts, using photodetachment thresholds.

At the same time, relativistic calculations incorporating electron correlation will be undertaken by leading theorists in the field. The principal aim of the work is to increase our understanding of highly correlated atomic systems.

The proposed investigations are made possible as a result of our recent technical developments at the cryogenic storage ring, DESIREE, in Stockholm and the development of a detector for studies of radioactitve negative ions at ISLODE at CERN. Second, we will study the general few-particle break-up problem, as formulated by Wannier.

Here we will apply two new experimental schemes that are expected to shine new light on this very fundamental quantum process.

We will also test the attoclock hypothesis, in which the time delay experienced by an electron while tunneling through a potential barrier is predicted to be observed as an offset in the photoelectron emission angle.Finally, we aim to make use of our expertise in negative ion spectroscopy to further improve the detection limits available in Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), presently the most sensitive trace element method.The motivations for the three types of studies described above are quite different, but they constitute a coherent research study in which the common denominator is that all experiments involve different aspects of photodetachment of negative ions.