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We present the first laser spectroscopic measurement of the neutron-rich nucleus ^{68}Ni at the N=40 subshell closure and extract its nuclear charge radius. Since this is the only short-lived isotope for which the dipole polarizability α_{D} has been measured, the combination of these observables provides a benchmark for nuclear structure theory. We compare them to novel coupled-cluster calculations based on different chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions, for which a strong correlation between the charge radius and dipole polarizability is observed, similar to the stable nucleus ^{48}Ca. Three-particle-three-hole correlations in coupled-cluster theory substantially improve the description of the experimental data, which allows to constrain the neutron radius and neutron skin of ^{68}Ni.

Two different experiments observe nuclei with excited nuclear states that differ in shape from their ground states, so called shape coexistence. These nuclei lie close to the neutron-rich doubly-magic ${}^{78}$Ni region of the nuclear chart.

Collinear laser spectroscopy is performed on the _{30}^{79}Zn_{49} isotope at ISOLDE-CERN. The existence of a long-lived isomer with a few hundred milliseconds half-life is confirmed, and the nuclear spins and moments of the ground and isomeric states in ^{79}Zn as well as the isomer shift are measured. From the observed hyperfine structures, spins I=9/2 and I=1/2 are firmly assigned to the ground and isomeric states. The magnetic moment μ (^{79}Zn)=-1.1866(10)μ_{N}, confirms the spin-parity 9/2^{+} with a νg_{9/2}^{-1} shell-model configuration, in excellent agreement with the prediction from large scale shell-model theories. The magnetic moment μ (^{79m}Zn)=-1.0180(12)μ_{N} supports a positive parity for the isomer, with a wave function dominated by a 2h-1p neutron excitation across the N=50 shell gap. The large isomer shift reveals an increase of the intruder isomer mean square charge radius with respect to that of the ground state, δ⟨r_{c}^{2}⟩^{79,79m}=+0.204(6) fm^{2}, providing first evidence of shape coexistence.

The ground-state spins and magnetic moments of $^{49,51}\mathrm{K}$ have been measured using bunched-beam high-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE CERN. For $^{49}\mathrm{K}$ a ground-state spin $I=1/2$ was firmly established. The observed hyperfine structure of $^{51}\mathrm{K}$ requires a spin $Ig1/2$ and strongly suggests $I=3/2$. From its magnetic moment $\ensuremath{\mu}(^{51}\mathrm{K})=+0.5129(22){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$ a spin-parity ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=3/{2}^{+}$ with a dominant $\ensuremath{\pi}1{d}_{3/2}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ hole configuration was deduced. This establishes for the first time the reinversion of the single-particle levels and illustrates the prominent role of the residual monopole interaction for single-particle levels and shell evolution.

The nuclear charge radius of $^{12}\mathrm{Be}$ was precisely determined using the technique of collinear laser spectroscopy on the $2{s}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2{p}_{1/2,3/2}$ transition in the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{+}$ ion. The mean square charge radius increases from $^{10}\mathrm{Be}$ to $^{12}\mathrm{Be}$ by $\ensuremath{\delta}⟨{r}_{c}^{2}{⟩}^{10,12}=0.69(5)\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fm}}^{2}$ compared to $\ensuremath{\delta}⟨{r}_{c}^{2}{⟩}^{10,11}=0.49(5)\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fm}}^{2}$ for the one-neutron halo isotope $^{11}\mathrm{Be}$. Calculations in the fermionic molecular dynamics approach show a strong sensitivity of the charge radius to the structure of $^{12}\mathrm{Be}$. The experimental charge radius is consistent with a breakdown of the $N=8$ shell closure.

Charge radii of all magnesium isotopes in the sd shell have been measured, revealing evolution of the nuclear shape throughout two prominent regions of assumed deformation centered on (24)Mg and (32)Mg. A striking correspondence is found between the nuclear charge radius and the neutron shell structure. The importance of cluster configurations towards N=8 and collectivity near N=20 is discussed in the framework of the fermionic molecular dynamics model. These essential results have been made possible by the first application of laser-induced nuclear orientation for isotope shift measurements.

Charge radii of all magnesium isotopes in the sd shell have been measured, revealing evolution of the nuclear shape throughout two prominent regions of assumed deformation centered on (24)Mg and (32)Mg. A striking correspondence is found between the nuclear charge radius and the neutron shell structure. The importance of cluster configurations towards N=8 and collectivity near N=20 is discussed in the framework of the fermionic molecular dynamics model. These essential results have been made possible by the first application of laser-induced nuclear orientation for isotope shift measurements.

Nuclear charge radii of ;{7,9,10,11}Be have been determined by high-precision laser spectroscopy. On-line measurements were performed with collinear laser spectroscopy in the 2s_{1/2}-->2p_{1/2} transition on a beam of Be+ ions. Collinear and anticollinear laser beams were used simultaneously, and the absolute frequency determination using a frequency comb yielded an accuracy in the isotope-shift measurements of about 1 MHz. Combining this with accurate calculations of the mass-dependent isotope shifts yields nuclear charge radii. The charge radius decreases from 7Be to 10Be and then increases for the halo nucleus 11Be. When comparing our results with predictions of ab initio nuclear-structure calculations we find good agreement. Additionally, the nuclear magnetic moment of 7Be was determined to be -1.3995(5)micro_{N} and that of 11Be was confirmed with an accuracy similar to previous beta-NMR measurements.

The nuclear charge radius of 11Li has been determined for the first time by high-precision laser spectroscopy. On-line measurements at TRIUMF-ISAC yielded a 7Li-11Li isotope shift (IS) of 25 101.23(13) MHz for the Doppler-free [FORMULA: SEE TEXT]transition. IS accuracy for all other bound Li isotopes was also improved. Differences from calculated mass-based IS yield values for change in charge radius along the isotope chain. The charge radius decreases monotonically from 6Li to 9Li, and then increases from 2.217(35) to 2.467(37) fm for 11Li. This is compared to various models, and it is found that a combination of halo neutron correlation and intrinsic core excitation best reproduces the experimental results.

The nuclear charge radius of 11Li has been determined for the first time by high-precision laser spectroscopy. On-line measurements at TRIUMF-ISAC yielded a 7Li-11Li isotope shift (IS) of 25 101.23(13) MHz for the Doppler-free [FORMULA: SEE TEXT]transition. IS accuracy for all other bound Li isotopes was also improved. Differences from calculated mass-based IS yield values for change in charge radius along the isotope chain. The charge radius decreases monotonically from 6Li to 9Li, and then increases from 2.217(35) to 2.467(37) fm for 11Li. This is compared to various models, and it is found that a combination of halo neutron correlation and intrinsic core excitation best reproduces the experimental results.

The $2s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3s$ transition of $^{6,7,8,9}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$ was studied by high-resolution laser spectroscopy using two-photon Doppler-free excitation and resonance-ionization detection. Hyperfine structure splittings and isotope shifts were determined with precision at the 100 kHz level. Combined with recent theoretical work, the changes in the nuclear-charge radii of $^{8,9}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$ were determined. These are now the lightest short-lived isotopes for which the charge radii have been measured. It is found that the charge radii monotonically decrease with increasing neutron number from $^{6}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$ to $^{9}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$.