Recent Developments in Measurement Techniques for Magnetic Moments of Short-Lived Nuclear States

Abstract

Until some four years ago, magnetic moment measurements were confined, with few exceptions, to excited nuclear states with lifetimes longer than ∼ 10^-11 s. This had to do with the problem of generating sufficiently intense fields (H ≳ 10 MGauss) at the nucleus, in controlled and quantitatively understood experimental conditions. The possibilities afforded by systems of isolated ions in this respect have since been explored by at least ten different research groups, applying a variety of techniques. The latest developments are outlined, an appraisal of certain methods is attempted and a compilation of recently determined magnetic moments appended.