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

A magneto-optical trap for radioactive atoms

E. Mariotti, K. Khanbekyan, C. Marinelli, Luca Marmugi, L. Moi, L. Corradi, A. Dainelli, R. Calabrese, G. Mazzocca, L. Tomassetti, P. Minguzzi

Published Mar 15, 2013• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

This paper presents the recent results of the TrapRad/Francium collaboration whose final aim is the measurement of the Atomic Parity Non-Conservation effect (APNC) in Francium atoms stored in a Magneto – Optical Trap (MOT) built at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN). Current developments and new strategies to enhance the trapping efficiency of Francium isotopes and to detect new spectroscopic features are reported.

DOI
10.1117/12.2014795

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Physica Scripta•Jan 1, 2003•8 citations
This paper presents the recent results of the TrapRad/Francium collaboration whose final aim is the measurement of the Atomic Parity Non-Conservation effect (APNC) in Francium atoms stored in a Magneto – Optical Trap (MOT) built at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN). Current developments and new strategies to enhance the trapping efficiency of Francium isotopes and to detect new spectroscopic features are reported.
The cooling and trapping of atoms , meaning the reduction of their average speed through the use of \nlaser techniques and their confinement in a region of a few mm3 space represents a new frontier for \nthe physics at low energies. The use of Magneto ‐ Optical Trap (MOT) for radioactive atoms allows \nthe realization of unique experiments for the study of fundamental interactions, in particular the \nstudies of Atomic Parity Non‐Conservation (APNC). This thesis presents the experimental apparatus \nused at the National Laboratories of Legnaro (LNL) of the INFN for the production and the on‐line \ntrapping of francium atoms (Fr) in a MOT. The Fr has no stable isotopes and is produced by a nuclear \nreaction, which is obtained by using Electrostatic Tandem‐XTU accelerator at LNL. The purpose of this \nline of research is the development of new techniques for trapping and detection of atoms of \nfrancium, specifically aimed at increasing the number of trapped atoms, in order to be able to make \nfuture relevant APNC measurements as a test of the Standard Model of elementary particles. The \nexperimental results achieved in the last three years (2011‐2013) will be described throughout the \nthesis, with a focus on the development of a new technique for detection of weak atomic transitions. \nThis is a direct method of investigation, based on the excitation of atoms in the MOT through a probe \nlaser beam, resonant with the transition being studied, and the detection of the transition through \nthe variations of the atomic population of the trap. Several hyperfine levels of the isotope of \nrubidium 85 have been excited by the probe beam, showing progressively lines of weaker intensity. \nThe application of this technique to radioactive atoms will allow to detect very weak transitions, such \nas those that indicate a transfer of the atoms trapped at energy levels that have not been \ninvestigated yet. The first evidence of Light‐Induced Atomic Desorption (LIAD effect) on a foil of \nyttrium, used as a neutralizer for the ionic beam of rubidium, will be presented in the thesis. It has \nbeen observed, both in the pulsed and in the continuous regimes, an increase of the MOT atomic \npopulation as a result of the desorption of the illuminated foil or the formation of the MOT when the \nyttrium foil is at room temperature and no trap is initially present. Subsequently, preliminary results \nobtained on the atomic desorption in a trap of 210Fr through a pulsed light will be shown. This \ntechnique seems to be promising to increase the atomic population of radioactive atoms traps.
A magneto-optical trap for francium radioactive atoms has been set up at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Legnaro laboratories, and its characterization and optimization are under way. The main features of the Fr+ beam line, of the target, and of the magneto-optical trap are described in detail. Measurements of the Fr-ion production rate as a function of the target temperature, the primary beam intensity, and energy have been made. Preliminary tests with other stable alkali atoms aimed at an improvement of the magneto-optical trap collection efficiency are reported. Fast and efficient trap loading of rubidium has been obtained through the light-induced atomic desorption from an organic coating. A larger number of sodium atoms, as compared with a monochromatic trapping laser, has been trapped by use of a broadband laser.
Laser cooling and trapping techniques made possible during the last two decades important achievements in the atomic physics and quantum mechanics fields. These same techniques can be usefully applied to radioactive atoms by opening new fields of investigations. Nuclear processes can be studied with the atomic physics tools. We focused our attention on Francium radioactive atoms. A magneto-optical trap has been set up at the INFN Legnaro laboratories. Preliminary tests with other stable alkali atoms aimed at an improvement of the MOT collection efficiency are reported. Fast and efficient trap loading of rubidium has been obtained through the light-induced atomic desorption from an organic coating. A larger number of sodium atoms, as compared to monochromatic trapping laser, has been trapped by using a broad-band laser.