Selective loading and laser cooling of rare calcium isotope 43Ca+

We report a method for loading ⁴³Ca⁺ ions selectively in a linear Paul trap using ultraviolet light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) for the second excitation in a two-step photo-ionization process. The difficulty in working with ⁴³Ca⁺ is its low natural abundance (0.135%). In order to load ⁴³Ca⁺ selectively, we utilize the isotope shifts for the 4s^{2 1} S ₀–4s4p¹ P ₁ transition of neutral calcium atoms. We discuss the limitation of the selectivity of the employed photo-ionization scheme and observe spectra from unwanted isotopes as well as that from ⁴³Ca⁺. Purification of ⁴³Ca⁺ is performed by adjusting the detuning of the cooling laser frequency and trapping potential. The method of loading and purification can be used in the application of trapped ⁴³Ca⁺ for an optical frequency standard and for quantum information processing. PACS 32.80.Fb; 32.80.Pj     

Isotope-selective trapping of rare calcium ions using high-power incoherent light sources for the second step of photo-ionization

Rare calcium isotope ⁴⁸Ca⁺ (0.187%) has been selectively loaded in a linear Paul trap using two ultraviolet light emitting diodes with the output power of 85 mW for the second excitation in a two-step photo-ionization process. Isotope selectivity has been achieved by utilizing the isotope shifts for the 4s^{2 1} S ₀–4s4p¹ P ₁ transition of neutral calcium atom. Sympathetic cooling of ⁴⁸Ca⁺ ions has been demonstrated using ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ions as refrigerant ions. Purification of rare isotope ⁴²Ca⁺ ions (0.647%) from a mixture of ⁴⁰Ca⁺ (96.9%) and ⁴²Ca⁺ ions has been performed by adjusting the detuning of the cooling laser frequency, which overcomes the imperfect selectivity for some rare isotopes having close resonance frequencies to that of ⁴⁰Ca in the 4s^{2 1} S ₀–4s4p¹ P ₁ transition. The methods can be applied to ⁴³Ca⁺ ion (0.135%) that has been considered as one of the attractive candidates for quantum information processing as well as for an optical frequency standard. PACS 32.80.Fb; 32.80.Pj; 32.80.Rm     

Improved three-dimensional control of a single strontium ion in an endcap trap

An endcap ion trap is described for trapping and laser cooling of a single strontium-88 ion. The 422 nm cooling laser is offset locked to the Doppler-free 5s ²S_1/2(F^′′=2)–6p ²P_1/2(F^′=3) transition in ⁸⁵Rb using saturation spectroscopy. The peak fluorescence signal from a single ion is around 6.0×10⁴ counts/s with the cooling laser at saturation intensity. Optical pumping of the ion in zero magnetic field is eliminated by the use of two 1092 nm repumper laser beams incident on the ion to create a time-varying polarisation. The ion’s micromotion can be reduced in all three dimensions, and the motional sidebands on the weak 5s ²S_1/2–4d ²D_5/2 quadrupole transition in ⁸⁸Sr⁺ have been observed. These results show the ion to be confined to less than a wavelength in three dimensions.     

Narrow-line diode laser system for laser cooling of strontium atoms on the intercombination transition

We report a diode laser system developed for narrow-line cooling and trapping on the ¹S₀–³P₁ intercombination transition of neutral strontium atoms. Doppler cooling on this spin-forbidden transition with a line width of /2=7.1 kHz enables us to achieve sub-K temperatures in a two-step cooling process. The required reduction of the laser line width to the kHz level was achieved by locking the laser to a tunable Fabry–Pérot cavity. The long-term drift (>0.1 s) of the reference cavity was compensated by employing the saturated absorption signal obtained from Sr vapor in a heat pipe of novel design. We demonstrate the potential of the system by performing spectroscopy of Sr atoms confined to the Lamb–Dicke regime in a one-dimensional optical lattice. PACS 32.80.Pj; 39.30.+w; 42.55.Px     

High sensitive photoassociation spectroscopy based on modulated ultra-cold Cs atoms

In this paper, a high sensitive photoassociation spectroscopy based on modulated ultra-cold cesium atoms is reported. The cold cesium gas in the magneto-optical trap is illuminated by a photoassociation laser with red detuning 40 cm^-1 below the 6S _1/2+6P _3/2 dissociation limit and photoassociation to the excited state ultra-cold molecules is observed. The rotationally bound levels of 0_g ^- state are well resolved using the lock-in detection. The 0_g ^-, 1_g and 0_u ⁺ long range states which connect to this dissociation limit are measured. The long-range dipole–dipole interaction constants are determined through a fit of the experimental energy levels. PACS 33.15.Mt; 33.20.Vq; 32.80.Pj     

Rb atomic absorption line reference for single Sr+ laser cooling systems

85 Rb, 5s²S_1/2(F”=2)→6p²P_1/2(F’=2,3) absorption resonance with the ⁸⁸Sr⁺, 5s²S_1/2→5p²P_1/2 transition is exploited to provide a simple, effective frequency reference for a laser cooling/fluorescence excitation source applied to single Sr⁺ ions. A modulation-free frequency stabilization system has been designed which uses the differential signal from two frequency-displaced beams traversing a Rb cell and which probe the Doppler-broadened Rb S–P lineshape at microwatt power levels. The method is applied to frequency lock a 422-nm frequency-doubled diode laser system that is used for excitation of a single ⁸⁸Sr⁺ ion. Stable, long-term laser cooling and fluorescence are achieved using the frequency-stabilized 422-nm source resulting in observed ion confinement times without adjustment of over 8 h, together with an improvement in single-ion loading efficiency. Received: 12 February 1998     

Simple and efficient magnetic transport of cold atoms using moving coils for the production of Bose–Einstein condensation

We have developed a simple magnetic transport method for the efficient loading of cold atoms into a magnetic trap. Laser-cooled ⁸⁷Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are transferred to a quadrupole magnetic trap and they are then transported as far as 50 cm by moving magnetic trap coils with a low excess heating of atoms. A light induced atom desorption technique helps to reduce the collision loss during the magnetic transport. Using this method, we can load cold ⁸⁷Rb atoms into a magnetic trap in an ultra high vacuum chamber with high efficiency, and we can produce ⁸⁷Rb condensate atoms. PACS 39.25.+k; 32.80.Pj; 03.75.Pp     

Atom chip based fast production of Bose–Einstein condensate

We have developed a simple method for the fast and efficient production of a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) on an atom chip. By using a standard six-beam magneto-optical trap and light-induced atom desorption for loading, 3×10^{7 87}Rb atoms are collected within 1 s and loaded into a small-volume magnetic potential of the chip with high efficiency. With this method, a BEC of 3×10³ atoms is realized within a total time of 3 s. We can realize a condensate of up to 2×10⁴ atoms by reducing three-body collisions. The present system can be used as a fast and high-flux coherent matter-wave source for an atom interferometer. PACS 03.75.Be; 32.80.Pj; 39.25.+k     

Loading rate of Yb<Superscript>+</Superscript> loaded through photoionization in radiofrequency ion trap

We investigate the loading rate of Yb⁺ ions loaded through photoionization in a radiofrequency trap. The absolute or relative number of the loaded trapped ions is measured by use of an electric resonance of the secular motion. This method is applicable even in the presence of anharmonicity. In two-color photoionization, where the first-excitation laser drives the ¹S₀–¹P₁ transition in the Yb atom and the second one ionizes the atom from the ¹P₁ state, the loading rate is at its highest by the excitation of the ionization potential. A similar loading rate is observed at the second-laser wavelength around 369.5 nm, which is the wavelength for the cooling transition of Yb⁺. We estimate the loading cross section to be 40(15) Mb for the two-color excitation of the ionization potential. The excitation of the Yb atoms in the Rydberg states is detected by the enhancement of the loading rate. By irradiation with only the first-excitation laser, Yb⁺ is produced at a rate three orders of magnitude smaller than that when the non-resonant two-photon absorption from the ¹P₁ state is the dominant process. We also measure the charge-exchange rate between Yb⁺ and Yb, and discuss its effect on isotope-selective photoionization loading.     

Is the 4.742 MeV state in 88Sr the 1− two-phonon state?

A nuclear resonance fluorescence experiment on ⁸⁸Sr has been performed with bremsstrahlung of 6.7 MeV endpoint energy. The γ-ray linear polarisation has been measured with a EUROBALL CLUSTER detector used as a Compton polarimeter. The results indicate positive parity for the J= 1 state at 4.742 MeV in ⁸⁸Sr, in contrast to the previous interpretation as a 1⁻ two-phonon (2⁺ ₁⊗ 3⁻ ₁) state and in conflict with the predictions of the quasiparticle-phonon model. On the basis of such calculations the 1⁺ state at 3.486 MeV may be considered as the 1⁺ ₁ one-phonon state and the very strong 1⁺ ₁→ 0⁺ ₁ deexcitation as proton spin-flip 2p_1/2→ 2p_3/2 transition. Received: 3 November 1999     

An efficient pathway for Li<Superscript>6</Superscript> isotope enrichment

Separation of lithium isotopes has been achieved using two-step laser photoionization in conjunction with an atomic beam and in-house built time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. We present an efficient pathway for the enrichment of Li⁶ isotope by tuning the exciter laser to the 3p ² P _{1/2, 3/2} excited state of Li⁶. A concentration of up to 60% is demonstrated from a natural isotopic abundant lithium sample. In addition, the first measurement of the absolute photoionization cross-section of the 3p excited state of Li⁶ and Li⁷ are reported as 26.8±4 Mb and 25.5±3.8 Mb, respectively. PACS 32.10.Bi; 32.80.t; 32.80.Fb     

2-photon ionization for efficient seeding and trapping of strontium ions

We describe an efficient way to photoionize strontium atoms in a linear radio-frequency trap. We use a 2-photon second order process to excite the autoionization resonance (4d²+5p²) ¹D₂ in neutral strontium (Sr). A doubled Ti:sapphire laser system is used at 431 nm to provide 100 fs pulses at 82 MHz. The fabrication of the laser systems for addressing the Sr⁺ transitions necessary for laser cooling and excitation of quantum jumps, vacuum system and ion trap structure are also described. With the current setup a easy and repeatable trapping of linear ion chains is readily achieved at very low Sr vapor pressures.     

A high-precision segmented Paul trap with minimized micromotion for an optical multiple-ion clock

We present a new setup to sympathetically cool ¹¹⁵In⁺ ions with ¹⁷²Yb⁺ for optical clock spectroscopy. A first prototype ion trap made of glass-reinforced thermoset laminates was built, based on a design that minimizes axial micromotion and offers full control of the ion dynamics in all three dimensions. We detail the trap manufacturing process and the characterization of micromotion in this trap. A calibration of the photon-correlation spectroscopy technique demonstrates a resolution of 1.1 nm in motional amplitude of our measurements. With this method, we demonstrate a sensitivity to systematic clock shifts due to excess micromotion of $|(\Updelta\nu/\nu)_{\rm mm}|=7.7\times10^{-20}$ along the direction of the spectroscopy laser beam. Owing to our on-board filter electronics on the ion trap chips, no rf phase shifts could be resolved at this level. We measured rf fields over a range of 400 μm along the ion trap axis and demonstrated a region of 70 μm where an optical frequency standard with a fractional inaccuracy of ≤1 × 10^?18 due to micromotion can be operated.     

Laser cooling and isotope-shift measurement of Zn<Superscript>+</Superscript> with 202-nm ultraviolet coherent light

We have laser-cooled all even isotopes of Zn⁺ ions confined in a linear radio-frequency ion trap, and measuredoptical isotope shifts in the 4s ² S _1/2-4p ² P _3/2 transition. Tunable continuous-wave coherent light near 202 nm was generated for this experiment by means of frequency conversion of light from diode and solid-state lasers. The measured isotope shifts are as follows: ⁶⁶Zn⁺-⁶⁴Zn⁺, 0.676(6) GHz; ⁶⁸Zn⁺-⁶⁶Zn⁺, 0.670(4) GHz; and ⁷⁰Zn⁺-⁶⁸Zn⁺, 0.568(10) GHz. In all cases, the transition line of the heavier isotope was observed at the higher frequency. The mass and the field shifts were estimated using a King plot. This is the first isotope-shift measurement in the transition involving the ground (4s ² S _1/2) state of Zn⁺ ions. Received: 18 July 2002 / Revised version: 20 October 2002 / Published online: 5 February 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-42/327-6694, E-mail: matubara@crl.go.jp Present address: Communications Research Laboratory, 4-2-1 Nukui-Kitamachi, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8795, Japan     

Tunable luminescent properties by adjusting the Sr/Ba ratio in Sr1.97−xBaxMgSi2O7:Eu0.01, Dy0.02 phosphors

The long afterglow phosphors Sr_1.97−xBa_xMgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺_0.01, Dy³⁺_0.02 (x=0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 1.97) were synthesized via high temperature solid-state reaction. The phase identification reveals that the crystal plane spacing becomes greater with the decrease in the Sr/Ba ratio. Phase transition occurs when x=1.97. A nonlinear relationship between the emission peak and the crystal plane spacing is obtained with the decrease of the Sr/Ba ratio. This ascribes to the splitting of the 5d level of the Eu²⁺ and the change of the crystal field strength. The duration of the afterglow becomes shorter with the decrease of the Sr/Ba ratio. It may ascribe to deeper trap depth, lower trap concentration and the embarrassment of the transfer of carriers.     

All-diode-laser cooling of single Ca+ ions

+ ions. The Ca⁺ ions are trapped in a miniature rf Paul trap and irradiated by light from a frequency-doubled diode laser at 397 nm and by light from a diode laser at 866 nm. We are able to cool a single ion and observe its fluorescence continuously with the laser diode locked to the external frequency-doubling cavity. Quantum jumps in the fluorescence light of a single ion and of a small cloud of five ions have been induced by driving the “clock” transition at 729 nm. We were able to resolve the influence of the micromotion on the excitation spectrum of the small ion cloud. Received: 10 July 1997/Revised version: 17 November 1997     

First absolute mass measurements of short-lived isotopes

Absolute mass measurements of short-lived isotopes have been performed at the on-line mass separator ISOLDE at CERN by determining the cyclotron frequencies of ions confined in a Penning trap. The cyclotron frequencies for^{77,78,85,86,88}Rb and⁸⁸Sr ions could be determined with a resolving power of 3×10⁵ and an accuracy of better than 10⁻⁶, which corresponds to 100 keV for massA=100. The shortest-lived isotope under investigation was⁷⁷Rb with a half-life of 3.7 min. The resonances obtained for the isobars⁸⁸Rb and⁸⁸Sr were clearly resolved.     

Method for obtaining high phase space density in a surface-mounted atom trap

We describe a method for obtaining a high phase space density of alkali atoms in a surface-mounted microscopic atom trap created above a transparent conductor or permanent magnet on a substrate prism. We show that the peak value of the phase space density can locally reach the level of 10^-2 when the microtrap is loaded with atoms from a gravito-optical surface trap. Initial spin polarization of the atoms is not required. PACS 32.80.Pj; 39.25.+k; 03.75.Be     

A frequency-doubled laser system producing ns pulses for rubidium manipulation

We have constructed a pulsed laser system for the manipulation of cold ⁸⁷Rb atoms. The system combines optical telecommunications components and frequency doubling to generate light at 780 nm. Using a fast, fibre-coupled intensity modulator, we sliced output from a continuous laser diode into pulses with a length between 1.3 and 6.1 ns and a repetition frequency of 5 MHz. These pulses are amplified using an erbium-doped fibre amplifier, and frequency-doubled in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal, yielding a peak power up to 12 W. Using the resulting light at 780 nm, we demonstrate Rabi oscillations on the F=2,m_F=+2↔F^′=3, m^′ _F=+3-transition of a single ⁸⁷Rb atom. PACS 32.80.Qk; 39.25.+k; 42.55.-f