An optical transition of 3489 A has been shown to arise from Li using beam foil spectroscopic technique. The mean life of the state emitting this radiation has been measured to be 2.23 ä 0.08 n sec.

A facility for carrying out beam-foil spectroscopic studies in the UV and visible region using the 400 kV electrostatic ion accelerator at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay is described.

Beam-foil spectrum of fluorine was recorded in the wavelength region of 2000–4500 Å using F⁺ ion beams of energies ranging from 216 to 296 KeV. Some of the spectral lines of fluorine observed during the present investigation are hitherto unknown. Mean lifetimes of a few of the excited levels of F II and F III are reported for the first time.

An electrostatic charge state selector has been constructed for charge transfer studies in ion atom collisions. Its design and performance have been discussed illustrating with examples of some data taken using heavy ion beams from the pelletron accelerator. Expressions for the determination of charge state fractions from the observed charge spectrum in voltage scanning mode of operation and also the line shapes have been discussed analytically in detail.

We are in the process of constructing a superconducting linear accelerator (LINAC), to boost the energy of heavy ion beams from the 14UD Pelletron accelerator, at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. The accelerating structures in the LINAC are quarter wave resonators (QWR) coated with lead which is superconducting at liquid helium temperature. With feasibility studies having been completed during the course of the 4th and 5th five-year plan periods, culminating with the demonstration of beam acceleration using one accelerating module, the construction of the LINAC is now under way.

A superconducting linear accelerator (LINAC) to boost the energy of the heavy ion beams from the 14 UD pelletron accelerator at Mumbai is under development. The booster is based on quarter wave resonators (QWR) coated with lead which is superconducting at liquid helium temperature. The operating frequency is 150 MHz. Four resonators each are mounted in a cryostat module built indigenously. A total of seven such modules arranged in two arms with an isochronous and achromatic beam bend in the middle comprises the full LINAC. The transverse focusing of the beam through the LINAC is carried out using periodic quadrupole doublet magnets operating at room temperature. The present status of the project is described.