An On-Line Laser Ion Source Based on Resonance Photoionization in a Gas Cell

First results obtained with a new type of on-line laser ion source based on resonant photoionization in a buffer gas cell are presented. The main advantages of this new target-ion-source system are its high efficiency, its selectivity, its short delay time, and its universality. This is demonstrated with the production of an isotopically and isobarically pure beam of ${}_{}{}^{55}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ni}$ $T_{\frac{1}{2}}\approx 200$ ms).