A new method of ultrasensitive trace-isotope analysis has been developed based upon the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms. It has been used to count individual 85Kr and 81Kr atoms present in a natural krypton sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10−11 and 10−13, respectively. The atom counts are free of contamination from other isotopes, elements, or molecules. The method is applicable to other trace-isotopes that can be efficiently captured with a magneto-optical trap, and has a broad range of potential applications.A new method of ultrasensitive trace-isotope analysis has been developed based upon the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms. It has been used to count individual 85Kr and 81Kr atoms present in a natural krypton sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10−11 and 10−13, respectively. The atom counts are free of contamination from other isotopes, elements, or molecules. The method is applicable to other trace-isotopes that can be efficiently captured with a magneto-optical trap, and has a broad range of potential applications.

AIP conference proceedingsJan 1, 20010 citations

Atom Trap Trace Analysis

Zheng‐Tian Lu

A new method of ultrasensitive trace-isotope analysis has been developed based upon the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms. It has been used to count individual {sup 85}Kr and {sup 81}Kr atoms present in a natural krypton sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10{sup {minus}11} and 10{sup {minus}13}, respectively. The atom counts are free of contamination from other isotopes, elements,or molecules. The method is applicable to other trace-isotopes that can be efficiently captured with a magneto-optical trap, and has a broad range of potential applications.A new method of ultrasensitive trace-isotope analysis has been developed based upon the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms. It has been used to count individual {sup 85}Kr and {sup 81}Kr atoms present in a natural krypton sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10{sup {minus}11} and 10{sup {minus}13}, respectively. The atom counts are free of contamination from other isotopes, elements,or molecules. The method is applicable to other trace-isotopes that can be efficiently captured with a magneto-optical trap, and has a broad range of potential applications.

APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting AbstractsMay 1, 20110 citations

Ultrasensitive Isotope Trace Analyses with a Magneto-Optical Trap

C. Y. Chen, Y. M. Li, K. Bailey +3 more

Laser manipulation of neutral atoms has been used to count individual krypton-85 and krypton-81 atoms present in a natural krypton gas sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10(-11) and 10(-13), respectively. This method of isotope trace analysis is free of contamination from other isotopes and elements and can be applied to several different isotope tracers for a wide range of applications. The demonstrated detection efficiency is 1 x 10(-7). System improvements could increase the efficiency by many orders of magnitude.Laser manipulation of neutral atoms has been used to count individual krypton-85 and krypton-81 atoms present in a natural krypton gas sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10(-11) and 10(-13), respectively. This method of isotope trace analysis is free of contamination from other isotopes and elements and can be applied to several different isotope tracers for a wide range of applications. The demonstrated detection efficiency is 1 x 10(-7). System improvements could increase the efficiency by many orders of magnitude.

ScienceNov 5, 1999195 citations

Atom trap trace analysis of krypton isotopes

K. Bailey, Chen, C. Y., Du, X. +4 more

A new method of ultrasensitive isotope trace analysis has been developed. This method, based on the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms, has been used to count individual {sup 85}Kr and {sup 81}Kr atoms present in a natural krypton gas sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10{sup {minus}11} and 10{sup {minus}13}, respectively. This method is free of contamination from other isotopes and elements and can be applied to several different isotope tracers for a wide range of applications. The demonstrated detection efficiency is 1 x 10{sup {minus}7}. System improvements could increase the efficiency by many orders of magnitude.A new method of ultrasensitive isotope trace analysis has been developed. This method, based on the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms, has been used to count individual {sup 85}Kr and {sup 81}Kr atoms present in a natural krypton gas sample with isotopic abundances in the range of 10{sup {minus}11} and 10{sup {minus}13}, respectively. This method is free of contamination from other isotopes and elements and can be applied to several different isotope tracers for a wide range of applications. The demonstrated detection efficiency is 1 x 10{sup {minus}7}. System improvements could increase the efficiency by many orders of magnitude.

Nov 17, 19990 citations

Towards ultrasensitive isotope trace analysis {sup 41}Ca.

Iain D. Moore, K. Bailey, Zheng‐Tian Lu +3 more

An Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) system based on the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms is being developed to count individual {sup 41}Ca atoms present in natural samples with an isotopic abundance of 10{sup -15}. Trapping of all stable calcium isotopes has been demonstrated and single-atom counting has been realized. For the most abundant isotope, {sup 40}Ca (97% isotopic abundance), a magneto-optical trap (MOT) loading rate of 2 x 10{sup 10} atoms/s has been reached at the overall capture efficiency of 1 x 10{sup -4}. System improvements could increase the efficiency by at least an order of magnitude.An Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) system based on the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms is being developed to count individual {sup 41}Ca atoms present in natural samples with an isotopic abundance of 10{sup -15}. Trapping of all stable calcium isotopes has been demonstrated and single-atom counting has been realized. For the most abundant isotope, {sup 40}Ca (97% isotopic abundance), a magneto-optical trap (MOT) loading rate of 2 x 10{sup 10} atoms/s has been reached at the overall capture efficiency of 1 x 10{sup -4}. System improvements could increase the efficiency by at least an order of magnitude.

May 6, 20020 citations

Counting Individual Ca41 Atoms with a Magneto-Optical Trap

Iain D. Moore, K. Bailey, J. P. Greene +6 more

Atom trap trace analysis, a novel method based upon laser trapping and cooling, is used to count individual atoms of $^{41}\mathrm{Ca}$ present in biomedical samples with isotopic abundance levels between ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ and ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$. The method is calibrated against resonance ionization mass spectrometry, demonstrating good agreement between the two methods. The present system has a counting efficiency of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$. Within 1 h of observation time, its $3\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremath{\sigma}$ detection limit on the isotopic abundance of $^{41}\mathrm{Ca}$ reaches $4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$.Atom trap trace analysis, a novel method based upon laser trapping and cooling, is used to count individual atoms of $^{41}\mathrm{Ca}$ present in biomedical samples with isotopic abundance levels between ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ and ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$. The method is calibrated against resonance ionization mass spectrometry, demonstrating good agreement between the two methods. The present system has a counting efficiency of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$. Within 1 h of observation time, its $3\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremath{\sigma}$ detection limit on the isotopic abundance of $^{41}\mathrm{Ca}$ reaches $4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$.

arXiv:physics/0310045Physical Review LettersApr 14, 200431 citations

Atom trap trace analysis, a novel method based upon laser trapping and cooling, is used to count individual atoms of

^{41}\mathrm{Ca}

present in biomedical samples with isotopic abundance levels between ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ and ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$. The method is calibrated against resonance ionization mass spectrometry, demonstrating good agreement between the two methods. The present system has a counting efficiency of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$. Within 1 h of observation time, its $3\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremath{\sigma}$ detection limit on the isotopic abundance of

^{41}\mathrm{Ca}

reaches $4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$.