High-power target development for the next-generation ISOL facilities

The production of high-purity radioactive ion beams (RIB) through the isotope separation online (ISOL) method makes possible unique research programmes in several fields of science. The demand for beam time continues to be high, while the study of more and more exotic isotopes, difficult to produce in sufficient quantities, is of primary interest for many of the currently defined research projects. At the same time, the growing interest from the medical field cannot pass unnoticed, where the ISOL technique gives access to the most innovative medical isotopes, with extremely-high specific activity. Increasing the RIBs intensity is therefore of primary interest, and it is carefully addressed through several R&D programmes worldwide. In this paper, we aim to discuss the increase of primary-beam power as a means to increase the RIB intensity. Next to the improvement of in-target production yields, target-material development for efficient isotopes release, compact-target systems and highly-efficient ion sources represent other possibilities to improve the isotopes-extraction efficiency and therefore the increase in RIBs intensity.