Single atom detection of calcium isotopes by atom trap trace analysis
Atomic Physics
2009-11-11 v1
Abstract
We demonstrate a combination of an isotopically purified atom beam and a magneto-optical trap which enables the single atom detection of all stable isotopes of calcium (40, 42, 43, 44, 46 and 48). These isotopes range in abundance from 96.9 % (40Ca) to 0.004 (46Ca). The trap is loaded from an atomic beam which is decelerated in a Zeeman slower and subsequently deflected over an angle of 30 degrees by optical molasses. The isotope selectivity of the Zeeman slower and the deflection stage is investigated experimentally and compared with Monte Carlo simulations.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0501009,
title = {Single atom detection of calcium isotopes by atom trap trace analysis},
author = {S. Hoekstra and A. K. Mollema and R. Morgenstern and H. W. Wilschut and R. Hoekstra},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0501009},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
8 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication (PRA)