Implantation and spectroscopy of metal atoms in solid helium

The first implantation of neutral Ba and Cs atoms into solid⁴He is reported. We discuss details of the experimental setup and techniques used to load the helium with atoms at concentrations of 10⁸ cm^–3. If photodissociation of Cs molecules and clusters is performed twice per hour this atomic concentration can be kept without a second implantation for almost a day. From the optical spectra of Ba in solid helium we infer no significant difference in the trapping site with respect to that in liquid helium.