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Physical Review A

Magneto-optical trapping of radioactive 82Rb atoms

Ralf Guckert, Xinxin Zhao, S. G. Crane, A. Hime, Wayne A. Taylor, D. Tupa, David J. Vieira, H. Wöllnik

Published Sep 1, 1998• 30 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report the successful trapping of $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ ${}^{82}\mathrm{Rb}$ ${(t}_{1/2}=75\mathrm{s})$ atoms with a trap lifetime of $\ensuremath{\sim}30\mathrm{s}$ in a magneto-optical trap that is coupled to an off-line mass separator. Efficient sample introduction is achieved by implanting ${}^{82}\mathrm{Rb}$ ions into a small yttrium catcher foil located inside the trapping cell. Upon heating, the radioactive atoms are released from the foil and trapped without significant gas loading. This advancement makes a variety of high-precision electroweak interaction experiments possible, including the measurement of \ensuremath{\beta}-decay correlations associated with spin-polarized ${}^{82}\mathrm{Rb}$ nuclei.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.58.r1637

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We report the successful trapping of 6\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1066\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}6\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi106 82Rb{}^{82}\mathrm{Rb}82Rb (t1/2=75s){(t}_{1/2}=75\mathrm{s})(t1/2​=75s) atoms with a trap lifetime of \ensuremath∼30s\ensuremath{\sim}30\mathrm{s}\ensuremath∼30s in a magneto-optical trap that is coupled to an off-line mass separator. Efficient sample introduction is achieved by implanting 82Rb{}^{82}\mathrm{Rb}82Rb ions into a small yttrium catcher foil located inside the trapping cell. Upon heating, the radioactive atoms are released from the foil and trapped without significant gas loading. This advancement makes a variety of high-precision electroweak interaction experiments possible, including the measurement of \ensuremath{\beta}-decay correlations associated with spin-polarized 82Rb{}^{82}\mathrm{Rb}82Rb nuclei.
The efficient coupling of an optical trap to a mass separator is being developed to undertake high-precision electroweak interaction measurements. The use of an ion implantation and subsequent heated foil release method is being pursued as a suitable way of introducing radioactive samples into the ultra high vacuum region of the optical trap without gas loading. The batchwise trapping and cooling of one million {sup 82}Rb atoms is envisioned with overall efficiencies of 1% or more. The cloud of cold radioactive atoms ({approximately}1 mm in diameter) will than be spin polarized and transferred to a second optical trap, repolarized, and loaded in a magnetic trap in which a beta-asymmetry measurement will be performed. The latest developments towards undertaking this experiment will be presented.
The authors describe the coupling of a magneto-optical trap to a mass separator for the ultra-sensitive detection of selected radioactive species. As a proof of principle test, they have demonstrated the trapping of {approximately} 6 million {sup 82} Rb (t{sub 1/2} = 75 s) atoms using an ion implantation and heated foil release method for introducing the sample into a trapping cell with minimal gas loading. Gamma-ray counting techniques were used to determine the efficiencies of each step in the process. By far the weakest step in the process is the efficiency of the optical trap itself (0.3%). Further improvements in the quality of the nonstick dryfilm coating on the inside of the trapping cell and the possible use of larger diameter laser beams are indicated. In the presence of a large background of scattered light, this initial work achieved a detection sensitivity of {approximately} 4,000 trapped atoms. Improved detection schemes using a pulsed trap and gated photon detection method are outlined. Application of this technology to the areas of environmental monitoring and nuclear proliferation are foreseen.
Optical trapping of selected species of radioactive atoms has great potential in precision measurements for testing fundamental physics such as the electric dipole moment, atomic parity nonconservation, and parity-violating $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay correlation coefficients. We report on the trapping of 104{10}^{4}104 radioactive 82Rb^{82}\mathrm{Rb}82Rb atoms (t1∕2=75s)({t}_{1∕2}=75\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s})(t1∕2​=75s) with a trap lifetime of $\ensuremath{\sim}55\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$ in an optical dipole trap. Transfer efficiency from the magneto-optical trap is $\ensuremath{\sim}14%$. We further report evidence of spontaneous spin polarization of the atoms in optical dipole trap loading. These advancements are an important step toward a new generation of precision nuclear-spin--$\ensuremath{\beta}$-emission direction correlation measurements with polarized 82Rb^{82}\mathrm{Rb}82Rb atoms.
The use of an optical trap for the quantitative detection of small numbers of radioactive atoms is featured. Presently under construction is a system consisting of a high-efficiency magneto-optical trap (MOT) coupled to a mass separator. Mass-separated samples will be implanted into a thin platinum foil, subsequently released from the foil by heating, and resonantly trapped in the MOT. The number of atoms in the trap will be quantitatively deduced from the amplitude of the fluorescence signal. Measurements for different isotopes are planned by appropriately shifting the trapping and repumping laser frequencies of the optical trap. Our initial investigations will concentrate on the determination of trace amounts of 135Cs and 137Cs.
As part of an effort to measure parity non-conserving atomic transition rates in a series of Cs radioisotopes, the authors are working on the efficient coupling of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to a mass separator. They have established a test stand for optical trapping which is used for the off-line development of a high-efficiency MOT. Their trap features a dry-film coated cell with large (5 cm) windows to permit the use of large diameter, high power laser beams to increase the efficiency of the trapping process. Studies of the effect of detuning, magnetic field gradient, laser beam intensity and different beam sizes on the number of trapped atoms are presented.
For years atomic and nuclear physicists have dreamed of doing experiments with dense, trapped gases of cold, neutral, radioactive atoms. With such samples they could perform precision spectroscopy of radioactive atoms, search for electric dipole moments (indicative of time-reversalsymmetry violation), study parity violation and electroweak effects in atomic transitions and β decay, and more. As reported in a recent issue of Physical Review Letters, such experiments took a step (or perhaps three) closer to reality when groups at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the University of Colorado demonstrated the feasibility of quickly and efficiently transporting and capturing large numbers of atoms from a vapor or an atomic beam.