Ra+ ion trapping: toward an atomic parity violation measurement and an optical clock

A single Ra⁺ ion stored in a Paul radio frequency ion trap has excellent potential for a precision measurement of the electroweak mixing angle at low momentum transfer and as the most stable optical clock. The effective transport and cooling of singly charged ions of the isotopes ²⁰⁹Ra to ²¹⁴Ra in a gas filled radio frequency quadrupole device is reported. The absolute frequencies of the transition 7s²S_1/2–7d²D_3/2 at wavelength 828 nm have been determined in ^212–214Ra⁺ with ≤19 MHz uncertainty using laser spectroscopy on small samples of ions trapped in a linear Paul trap at the online facility Trapped Radioactive Isotopes: µicrolaboratories for fundamental Physics (TRIµP) of the Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut.     

Radium ion: a candidate for measuring atomic parity violation

Parity Non Conservation (PNC) in atomic systems can be observed in experiments using a single trapped ion and intense laser fields. The original proposal is based on a single barium ion. Here, we study the feasibility for carrying out similar experiment with a single radium ion. Since the PNC effect in atomic system increases faster than the Z ³, where Z is the atomic number, radium is a natural choice. The advantages and disadvantages of measuring atomic parity violation in radium ion are discussed.     

Temperature measurement of 6He?+? ions confined in a transparent Paul trap

The LPCTrap setup is a transparent Paul trap dedicated to the measurement of the ???C?? correlation coefficient a _?|? in the ?? decay of trapped radioactive nuclides. In a first experiment, the system has been used to record ??10⁵ coincidences between the ?? particles and recoiling ions emitted from the decay of ⁶He^?+? ions. The analysis of the collected data has already shown that the size of the ⁶He^?+? ion cloud confined in the Paul trap is a critical parameter, potentially limiting the accuracy on the a _?|? measurement. We report here the precise determination of the trapped ion cloud temperature and size. This was performed by extracting the trapped ions toward a position sensitive micro channel plate detector at different phases of the RF driving field. We find a temperature T _exp ?= 0.107(7) eV, consistent with the temperature values inferred using two other observables but 20% higher than the temperature T _sim ?= 0.09 eV predicted by realistic simulations of the ions interacting with the H₂ buffer gas.     

A thin wire ion trap to study ion–atom collisions built within a Fabry–Perot cavity

We report on the implementation of a thin wire Paul trap with tungsten wire electrodes for trapping ions. The ion trap geometry, though compact, allows large optical access enabling a moderate finesse Fabry–Perot cavity to be built along the ion trap axis. The design allows a vapor-loaded magneto-optical trap of alkali atoms to be overlapped with trapped atomic or molecular ions. The construction and design of the trap are discussed, and its operating parameters are determined, both experimentally and numerically, for Rb⁺. The macromotion frequencies of the ion trap for ⁸⁵Rb⁺ are determined to be f _r  = 43 kHz for the radial and f _z  = 54 kHz for the axial frequencies, for the experimentally determined optimal operating parameters. The destructive off axis ion extraction and detection by ion counting is demonstrated. Finally, evidence for the stabilization and cooling of trapped ions, due to ion–atom interactions, is presented by studying the ion-atom mixture as a function of interaction time. The utility and flexibility of the whole apparatus, for a variety of atomic physics experiments, are discussed in conclusion.     

Two-body beta decay of stored few-electron ions

The combination of the projectile fragment separator FRS and the cooler-storage ring ESR at the accelerator facility of GSI Darmstadt offers the unique opportunity to study beta decay of stored highly-charged ions. Basic nuclear properties such as masses and half-lives are measured by applying the mass- and time-resolved Schottky Mass Spectrometry (SMS). The relative mass-to-charge ratio is directly correlated to the relative revolution frequency. The SMS is sensitive to single stored ions and the decay of each stored ion can be precisely determine by steady monitoring of the corresponding revolution frequencies. On this basis the single particle decay-spectroscopy has been developed which allows for an unambiguous time-resolved and background-free identification of a certain decay branch. In this contribution we discuss experiments on the orbital electron capture (EC) of radioactive ions in the ESR. Fully ionized, hydrogen- and helium-like ¹⁴⁰Pr and ¹⁴²Pm ions have been selected for these studies. These nuclei decay to stable daughter nuclei via either the three-body ?? ^?+?- or the two-body EC-decay by a single allowed Gamow?CTeller (1^?+? ??0^?+?) transition.     

Cold highly charged ions in a cryogenic Paul trap

Narrow optical transitions in highly charged ions (HCIs) are of particular interest for metrology and fundamental physics, exploiting the high sensitivity of HCIs to new physics. The highest sensitivity for a changing fine structure constant ever predicted for a stable atomic system is found in Ir^17?+?. However, laser spectroscopy of HCIs is hindered by the large (～ 10⁶ K) temperatures at which they are produced and trapped. An unprecedented improvement in such laser spectroscopy can be obtained when HCIs are cooled down to the mK range in a linear Paul trap. We have developed a cryogenic linear Paul trap in which HCIs will be sympathetically cooled by ⁹Be^?+? ions. Optimized optical access for laser light is provided while maintaining excellent UHV conditions. The Paul trap will be connected to an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) which is able to produce a wide range of HCIs. This EBIT will also provide the first experimental input needed for the determination of the transition energies in Ir^17?+?, enabling further laser-spectroscopic investigations of this promising HCI.     

Parity Nonconserving (PNC) Electroweak Radiative Corrections for Highly Charged Ions (HCI)

We derive the electroweak radiative corrections to the basic PNC atomic transition amplitude for highly charged hydrogenlike ions. In the case of highly charged ions (HCI) effects of strong fields are reflected by the momentum transfer q ² involved. It is of the order q ²≈m _e ² inHCI, while q ²≈0 inneutral atoms. This may open the possibility to search for “new physics” beyond the Standard Model and to test the Standard Model in experiments with HCI. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isotope shift calculations for open-shell atoms and ions: an extension to the RATIP program

During the past decade, the Ratip program has been found useful for calculating a variety of atomic properties, including energies, transition probabilities, Auger parameters as well as a number of excitation, ionization and capture cross sections for processes with a single electron in the continuum. Recently, in addition, this suite of programs was extended to predict also the isotope shift and hyperfine parameters of open-shell atoms and ions. Here, we review the latest developments of the Ratip program with emphasis on the specific mass-shift M ^sms and field-shift F parameters. Detailed computations for these parameters have been carried out especially for the $4s\;^2S_{1/2} - 4p\;^2P_{1/2,3/2}$ transitions at ~ 397 nm of singly-charged Ca^?+? ions and are compared with available data from the literature.     

The Lamb-shift experiment in Muonic helium

We propose to measure several transition frequencies between the 2S and the 2P states (Lamb shift) in muonic helium ions (μ ⁴He^?+? and μ ³He^?+?) by means of laser spectroscopy, in order to determine the alpha-particle and helion root-mean-square (rms) charge radius. In addition, the fine and hyperfine structure components will be revealed, and the magnetic moment distribution radius will be determined. The contribution of the finite size effect to the Lamb shift (2S???2P energy difference) in μHe^?+? is as high as 20 %. Therefore a measurement of the transition frequencies with a moderate (for laser spectroscopy) precision of 50 ppm (corresponding to 1/20 of the linewidth) will lead to a determination of the nuclear rms charge radii with a relative accuracy of 3 ×10^???4 (equivalent to 0.0005 fm). The limiting factor for the extraction of the radii from the Lamb shift measurements is given by the uncertainty of the nuclear polarizability contribution. Combined with an ongoing experiment at MPQ aiming to measure the 1S???2S transition frequency in the helium ion, the Lamb shift measurement in μHe^?+? will lead to a sensitive test of problematic and challenging bound-state QED terms. This measurement will also help to clarify the discrepancy found in our previous μ _p experiment. Additionally, a precise knowledge of the absolute nuclear radii of the He isotopes and the hyperfine splitting of μ ³He^?+? provide a relevant test of few-nucleon theories.     

Rydberg hydrogen atom in the presence of uniform magnetic and quadrupolar electric fields

Laser cooling and trapping offers the possibility of confining a sample of radioactive atoms in free space. Here, we address the question of how best to take advantage of cold atom properties to perform the observation of as highly forbidden a line as the 6S-7S Cs transition for achieving, in the longer term, atomic parity violation (APV) measurements in radioactive alkali isotopes. Another point at issue is whether one might do better with stable, cold atoms than with thermal atoms. To compensate for the large drawback of the small number of atoms available in a trap, one must take advantage of their low velocity. To lengthen the time of interaction with the excitation laser, we suggest choosing a geometry where the laser beam exciting the transition is colinear to a slow, cold atomic beam, either extracted from a trap or prepared by Zeeman slowing. We also suggest a new observable physical quantity manifesting APV, which presents several advantages: specificity, efficiency of detection, possibility of direct calibration by a parity conserving quantity of a similar nature. It is well adapted to a configuration where the cold atomic beam passes through two regions of transverse, crossed electric fields, leading both to differential measurements and to strong reduction of the contributions from the M₁-Stark interference signals, potential sources of systematics in APV measurements. Our evaluation of signal-to-noise ratios shows that with available techniques, measurements of transition amplitudes, important as required tests of atomic theory, should be possible in ¹³³Cs with a statistical precision of 10^-3 and probably also in Fr isotopes for production rates of Fr atoms s^-1. For APV measurements to become realistic, some practical realization of the collimation of the atomic beam as well as multiple passages of the excitation beam matching the atomic beam looks essential.Received: 5 March 2003, Published online: 17 July 2003PACS: 32.80.Ys Weak-interaction effects in atoms - 32.70.Cs Oscillator strengths, lifetimes, transition moments - 32.80.Pj Optical cooling of atoms; trapping - 39.90.+d Other instrumentation and techniques for atomic and molecular physicsS. Sanguinetti: Also at E. Fermi Physics Dept., Pisa Univ., Pisa, Italy.     

Energy losses of fast heavy multiply charged structural ions in collisions with complex atoms

A nonperturbatve theory of energy losses of fast heavy multiply charged structural ions in collisions with neutral complex atoms is elaborated with allowance for simultaneous excitations of ionic and atomic electron shells. Formulas for the effective deceleration that are similar to the well-known Bethe-Bloch formulas are derived. By way of example, the energy lost by partially stripped U ^q+ ions (10 ≤ q ≤ 70) colliding with argon atoms and also the energy lost by Au, Pb, and Bi ions colliding with various targets are calculated. The results of calculation are compared with experimental data.     

Mössbauer study of 57Fe in GaAs and GaP following 57Mn+ implantation

Ion implantation provides a precise method of incorporating dopant atoms in semiconductors, provided lattice damage due to the implantation process can be annealed and the dopant atoms located on regular lattice sites. We have undertaken ⁵⁷Fe emission Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements on GaAs and GaP single crystals following implantation of radioactive ⁵⁷Mn^?+? ions, to study the lattice sites of the implanted ions, the annealing of implantation induced damage and impurity–vacancy complexes formed. The Mössbauer spectra were analyzed with four spectral components: an asymmetric doublet (D1) attributed to Fe atoms in distorted environments due to implantation damage, two single lines, S1 assigned to Fe on substitutional Ga sites, and S2 to Fe on interstitial sites, and a low intensity symmetric doublet (D2) assigned to impurity–vacancy complexes. The variations in the extracted hyperfine parameters of D1 for both materials at high temperatures (T?> 400 K) suggests changes in the immediate environment of the Fe impurity atoms and different bonding mechanism to the Mössbauer probe atom. The results show that the annealing of the radiation induced damage is more prominent in GaAs compared to GaP.     

Trapped radioactive isotopes for fundamental symmetry investigations

Discrete symmetries tested in high precision atomic physics experiments provide guidance to model building beyond the Standard Model (SM). Here experimental opportunities arise for searches for permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) and measurements of atomic parity violation (APV). Heavy atoms are favorable for such experiments since symmetry violating effects in atoms increase faster than the third power of the nuclear charge Z. Of special interest are isotopes of the heavy alkaline earth element radium (Z=88) since they offer large enhancement factors for EDMs and provide a new experimental road towards high precision measurements of atomic parity violation. These opportunities are exploited at the TRIμP facility at KVI, Groningen.     

Doppler-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy of Yb atomic gas for trapped-ion experiments

An ion trap-based Quantum system has been one of the leading architectures toward building a scalable and practical quantum computer. The trapped ion system also has been used for precision experiments such as quantum sensing, metrology, and atomic clock. For the ion-trap experiment, searching resonant frequencies of atomic isotopes are essential for selectively ionization and trapping a specific isotope. In this work, we set up an Yb fluorescence spectroscopy for detecting 399 nm photons of ¹S₀ → ¹P₁ transition of the Yb gas from a heated oven. We observed the relative frequency differences between the Yb isotopes and calibrated an optical wavemeter comparing with previous literatures. In addition, we obtain characteristic properties of the atomic oven such as gas’ velocity and density distribution at different oven temperatures. Our experiment can offer a relatively simple and cost-efficient apparatus of spectroscopy and can be useful for designing trap devices in the trapped-ion experiment.     

Low-energy ion scattering by monatomic films

The angular and energy distributions of Cs⁺ and Xe⁺ ions scattered by monatomic crystalline films have been calculated via the molecular dynamics method in the scope of the multiparticle interaction mechanism. The calculated dependences of scattered heavy ions with a low initial energy E ₀ = 40 eV on the atomic mass, crystal lattice type, interatomic distance, and binding energy of the film atoms are discussed and compared with the experiment. The presented data can be used to predict the physical properties of a surface covered with a monatomic layer of foreign atoms during experimental surface studies based on the backscattering of ions with low initial energies.     

Parity nonconservation in hydrogen

We discuss the prospects for parity violation experiments in atomic hydrogen and deuterium to contribute to testing the Standard Model (SM). We find that, if parity experiments in hydrogen can be done, they remain highly desirable because there is negligible atomic-physics uncertainty and low energy tests of weak neutral current interactions are needed to probe for new physics beyond the SM. Analysis of a generic APV experiment in deuterium indicates that a 0.3% measurement of C _1D requires development of a slow (77K) metastable beam of ???5×10¹⁴D(2S)s ^???1 per hyperfine component. The advent of UV radiation from free electron laser (FEL) technology could allow production of such a beam.     

激光冷却获得高亮度的亚稳态惰性气体原子束和原子阱

高强度的亚稳态惰性原子束流在原子分子物理实验研究中具有广泛的应用.使用射频电离方法和激光横向冷却技术制备了高强度的亚稳态氪原子束流,并使用数值模拟方法对横向冷却激光场中的原子径迹进行了分析.通过激光诱导荧光光谱方法测量原子束的束流特性,结果显示,横向冷却后在束流源下游230 cm处的原子束流强度达1.6atoms/(s*sr),束流强度提高了两个量级.利用这种高强度原子束流,我们成功囚禁了1.3×10¹⁰个亚稳态⁸⁴Kr原子,同时冷原子装载速率达到了3.0×10¹¹atoms/s;并利用该装置成功地实现了高亮度的亚稳态氩原子束和原子阱. 关键词： 横向冷却 原子束 原子阱 惰性气体     

A simple post-accelerator foil stripper assembly for atomic collision experiments

A multiple foil holder for use in ultra high vacuum (UHV) environment as a post accelerator ion stripper has been designed and fabricated. It is used to produce beams of an ion in different charge states at a given energy from a 14 MV pelletron accelerator. These ions are required in several types of atomic collision experiments. The assembly is tested with³²S ions at various energies.     

Secondary ion emission from a GaAs single crystal upon bombardment with Bi<Stack> <Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis> </Subscript> <Superscript>+</Superscript> </Stack> cluster ions

Secondary-ion mass spectra and energy distributions upon bombarding a gallium arsenide single crystal using Bi_m⁺(m = 1–5) cluster ions with energies of 2–12 keV are investigated. The gallium cluster ion yield grew nonadditively with the number of atoms in the cluster projectiles. A quasi-thermal component found in the energy spectra of secondary Ga⁺ and Ga₂⁺ ions is indicative of the occurrence of the thermal spike mode upon cluster ion bombardment. The quasi-thermal component in the yield of atomic Ga⁺ ions upon bombardment with Bi₂⁺–Bi₅⁺–ions is 35–75%.     

Laser experiments with single atoms and the test of basic quantum phenomena

In this paper, recent experiments of our group performed with single atoms in cavities and traps are summarized. In the first part, experiments with the one-atom maser are described dealing with the generation of number states of the photon field. In the second part of the paper, the spectroscopy of a single trapped In⁺ ion is discussed being performed with the aim of realizing a new frequency standard in the optical range.