Towards on-line production of N = Z94Ag at IGISOL

A future study of the ground state and low-lying isomeric states of 94Ag and 96Ag at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility, University of Jyvaeskylae, requires the development of a low-energy beam of neutron-deficient silver. In order to attain the highest possible extraction efficiencies the coupling of a hot cavity graphite catcher device to the IGISOL mass-separator is planned. A heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reaction will produce the silver recoils which will be captured in the graphite catcher. Resonant laser ionization techniques will be applied to efficiently and selectively ionize the evaporated silver atoms. A simulation program has been written to study the energy and emittance of the recoils in order to optimize the capture geometry. The off-line development of a laser ionization scheme is discussed and the first results of a performance test of the hot cavity with beam on target are given.