Application of resonance ionization mass spectrometry for trace analysis and in fundamental research

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) has been used for ultra-trace analysis on long-lived radioisotopes like Pu, Tc and ^89,90Sr in various environmental samples. The experimental approaches cover pulsed laser spectroscopy on a thermal atomic beam and subsequent time-of-flight mass analysis, a pulsed laser ion source combined with conventional mass spectrometry, and collinear resonance ionization on a mass-separated fast atomic beam. The high sensitivity of RIMS also enables atomic spectroscopy on rare isotopes. For the first time experimental values for the ionization potential of actinides up to Cf have been determined. The paper reviews the dependency of the different experimental approaches on the analytical problem