Detection of laser-ablated caesium atoms with resonance ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

This paper describes a successful combination of resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS) with laser ablation of atoms from a solid sample and time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry for isotope separation. For the first time, to the authors' knowledge, RIS signals have been detected from Cs atoms ablated from a solid target. Clear resonances were detected at both of the 6 2 S to 7 2 P transitions with signal-to-noise ratios that can be greater than 100:1. This technique differs from previous recorded techniques in its ability to resolve ion peaks from a single laser shot rather than requiring integration over many shots, and in the ease with which it can be used to analyse unprepared samples.