Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Laser trapping of short-lived radioactive isotopes

S. J. Freedman, Brian K. Fujikawa, Zheng‐Tian Lu, M. A. Rowe, Song-Quan Shang, E. G. Wasserman

Published Apr 7, 1995• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Using sources of laser trapped radioactive atoms in beta-decay experiments could lead to more precise measurements of decay correlations that can be used to test the Standard Model of electroweak interactions. We discuss a recent demonstration of the feasibility of slowing and trapping significant numbers of accelerator produced short lived atoms.

DOI
10.1117/12.206447

Related papers

Laser trapping of radioactive atoms

S. J. Freedman

The capability of manipulating neutral atoms with the force of resonant scattered laser light is being exploited in several different areas of research. The author discusses applications in particle and nuclear physics by expediting some measurements of the subtle effects of the fundamental weak interaction in atoms and nuclei. It was shown in two recent experiments that it is possible to efficiently cool accelerator produced short-lived isotopes and load them into magneto-optic traps. These demonstrations open up new possibilities for obtaining the required precision in experiments involving rare radioactive isotopes.

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•Apr 1, 1995•0 citations

Laser trapping of short-lived radioactive isotopes

Z-T. Lu, C. J. Bowers, S. J. Freedman +5 more

We describe an experiment which demonstrates the feasibility of trapping significant quantities of short-lived radioactive atoms with laser light. A thermal beam of 22.5 sec half-life $^{21}\mathrm{Na}$ atoms was produced on-line at the LBL 88'' Cyclotron. After decelerating the beam using a Zeeman-tuned slowing technique we stored about 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{3}$ $^{21}\mathrm{Na}$ atoms in a magneto-optical trap. The number of trapped atoms is large enough to be used in experimental studies of the beta decay of $^{21}\mathrm{Na}$. The basic method can be adapted for other rare isotopes.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 13, 1994•72 citations

Magneto-Optic Traps are Set for Radioactive Atoms

Ray L. Ladbury

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.

Physics Today•Sep 1, 1994•1 citation

LASER TRAPPING OF RADIOACTIVE ATOMS

Gene D. Sprouse, Luis A. Orozco

▪ Abstract Light forces acting on radioactive atoms confine them in cold samples of large phase space density. We describe the processes of radioactive atom production, reduction of their velocity, and capture. The trapped atoms form excellent sources for the study of atomic parity non-conservation, β decay and α decay asymmetries, and other weak interactions.

Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science•Dec 1, 1997•53 citations

Laser cooling and trapping as an enabling technology

Carl Wieman

Summary form only given. Techniques for cooling and trapping atoms now provide unique capabilities for the manipulation of atoms. In particular, they make possible very low temperatures, extraordinarily high atomic phase space densities, and long perturbation-free observation times. These capabilities enable one to carry out many new measurements on atoms with great precision and/or in entirely new regimes of temperature and density. This tutorial will concentrate primarily on the practical aspects of how to apply current laser cooling and trapping techniques. This will include descriptions of the various techniques and their capabilities, as well as a discussion of tradeoffs between price, complexity, and various performance parameters. Finally, I will briefly discuss how these techniques are applied in a number of specific cases including cold collisions, precision measurements including atomic clocks, atom interferometry, collecting radioactive isotopes, and the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jun 2, 1996•0 citations

Applications of laser cooling and trapping to fundamental physics

Carl Wieman, Eric Cornell, M. Stephens

We are attempting to produce an atomic vapor that is so cold that the de Broglie wavelength is larger than the interparticle spacing. This is the condition needed to obtain Bose-Einstein condensation of a noninteracting gas. Our approach is to optically trap and cool atomic cesium and then load it into a purely magnetic trap for further cooling. In the course of this work we have investigated a number of magnetic traps and very low temperature collisions that are relevant to the success of this approach. In other work we are developing optical trapping techniques for the efficient collection of radioactive alkali isotopes. This work is aimed at measuring parity violation in these isotopes and thereby stringently testing the standard model of elementary particle physics. We have studied how to optimize the capture efficiency of atoms in an atomic vapor. We are currently developing cells that will allow the atoms to bounce off the walls until they are captured in the optical trap. The efficiency of this capture scheme will be discussed.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations
Using sources of laser trapped radioactive atoms in beta-decay experiments could lead to more precise measurements of decay correlations that can be used to test the Standard Model of electroweak interactions. We discuss a recent demonstration of the feasibility of slowing and trapping significant numbers of accelerator produced short lived atoms.
The capability of manipulating neutral atoms with the force of resonant scattered laser light is being exploited in several different areas of research. The author discusses applications in particle and nuclear physics by expediting some measurements of the subtle effects of the fundamental weak interaction in atoms and nuclei. It was shown in two recent experiments that it is possible to efficiently cool accelerator produced short-lived isotopes and load them into magneto-optic traps. These demonstrations open up new possibilities for obtaining the required precision in experiments involving rare radioactive isotopes.
We describe an experiment which demonstrates the feasibility of trapping significant quantities of short-lived radioactive atoms with laser light. A thermal beam of 22.5 sec half-life 21Na^{21}\mathrm{Na}21Na atoms was produced on-line at the LBL 88'' Cyclotron. After decelerating the beam using a Zeeman-tuned slowing technique we stored about 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}103{10}^{3}103 21Na^{21}\mathrm{Na}21Na atoms in a magneto-optical trap. The number of trapped atoms is large enough to be used in experimental studies of the beta decay of 21Na^{21}\mathrm{Na}21Na. The basic method can be adapted for other rare isotopes.
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.
Summary form only given. Techniques for cooling and trapping atoms now provide unique capabilities for the manipulation of atoms. In particular, they make possible very low temperatures, extraordinarily high atomic phase space densities, and long perturbation-free observation times. These capabilities enable one to carry out many new measurements on atoms with great precision and/or in entirely new regimes of temperature and density. This tutorial will concentrate primarily on the practical aspects of how to apply current laser cooling and trapping techniques. This will include descriptions of the various techniques and their capabilities, as well as a discussion of tradeoffs between price, complexity, and various performance parameters. Finally, I will briefly discuss how these techniques are applied in a number of specific cases including cold collisions, precision measurements including atomic clocks, atom interferometry, collecting radioactive isotopes, and the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates.
We are attempting to produce an atomic vapor that is so cold that the de Broglie wavelength is larger than the interparticle spacing. This is the condition needed to obtain Bose-Einstein condensation of a noninteracting gas. Our approach is to optically trap and cool atomic cesium and then load it into a purely magnetic trap for further cooling. In the course of this work we have investigated a number of magnetic traps and very low temperature collisions that are relevant to the success of this approach. In other work we are developing optical trapping techniques for the efficient collection of radioactive alkali isotopes. This work is aimed at measuring parity violation in these isotopes and thereby stringently testing the standard model of elementary particle physics. We have studied how to optimize the capture efficiency of atoms in an atomic vapor. We are currently developing cells that will allow the atoms to bounce off the walls until they are captured in the optical trap. The efficiency of this capture scheme will be discussed.