Spectra and lifetime measurements involving lithium and sodium ion beams excited with the aid of a foil

The reported investigation utilizes a method developed by Kay (1963) and Bashkin (1964). This method, called beam-foil spectroscopy (BFS), makes use of atomic collisions within a target to excite the particles of an ion beam. The investigation has the objective to determine spectra and lifetimes in the case of lithium and sodium ions for the energy range from 100 to 400 keV. The advantage of BFS in comparison to a conventional excitation method is found to be related to the possibility to obtain more high-energy levels. Limitations of BFS are observed in the measurement of very short lifetimes and low levels