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arXiv:physics/0310045 · Physical Review Letters

Counting Individual Ca41 Atoms with a Magneto-Optical Trap

Iain D. Moore, K. Bailey, J. P. Greene, Zheng‐Tian Lu, P. Müller, Thomas P. O’Connor, Ch. Geppert, K. Wendt, Linda Young

Published Apr 14, 2004• 31 citations

Abstract

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

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.92.153002

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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}

.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 method using a combination of a magneto-optical trap and a mass spectrometer, referred to as atom trap-mass spectrometry (ATMS), is employed for calcium-isotope analysis. A calcium magneto-optical trap with a Zeeman slower is used in the first isotope-selection stage of the ATMS. The trapped calcium isotope is ionized by using a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser, and the photoions are analyzed using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The isotope-selection characteristics of the combination method and further improvements in the method are discussed in this work.