A simple method for counting the number of trapped ions in an ion trap

The number of stored Ca\(^+\) ions in an ion trap was measured optically by utilizing the metastable states. All the ions trapped are first pumped into the metastable \(D\) states. The ions in the metastable \(D\) states are transferred to the ground \(S\) state via the \(P\) state by exciting a \(D\rightarrow P\) transition. Each ion then emits one photon through a subsequent \(P\rightarrow S\) spontaneous emission. Thus, the number of photons is the same as the number of trapped ions initially in the metastable states. When a fraction of all the stored ions are pumped into the metastable states, the method is still applicable if the fraction of the ions is known.

Determination of the isotope shift in theD 1 line between197Au and195Au

The isotope shift between197Au (stable) and195Au (T 1/2=183 d) was determined by resonance fluorescence and polarization spectroscopy in the 6s2 S 1/2 -6p 2 P 1/2, λ =267.6nm line. The result is δν195, 197=-2.9(2) GHz corresponding to a change of the mean-square charge radius by δ〈r 2〉195, 197=0.063(9) fm2. The sample was confined to a resonance cell heated to temperatures of up to 1500°C.

Laser applications in nuclear physics

Determination of nuclear spins of short-lived isotopes by laser induced fluorescence

Abstract The spins of several nuclear ground and isomeric states have been measured for a number of mercury isotopes. The fluorescent light from the 6s6p3P1 state is observed at 2537 A after excitation with the frequency doubled output of a pulse dye laser. Four different laser induced fluorescence techniques were tested for their applicability: double resonance, Hanle effect, time delayed integral Hanle beats, and time resolved quantum beats. The sensitivity and selectivity of these models are compared with emphasis on the determination of spins of nuclei far from beta-stability, where short half lives and low production yields restrict the number of available atoms. The experiments were c…

Nuclear Spins of the IsomersHg191m−185mDetermined by On-Line Quantum-Beat Spectroscopy

The nuclear spins of the very neutron-deficient $^{191m\ensuremath{-}185m}\mathrm{Hg}$ isomers were measured on line at the mass separator ISO LIDE at CERN using pulsed-laser excitation and observation of the time-resolved quantum beats from selected hyperfine-structure states. The spins of these isomers are with $I=\frac{13}{2}$ equal to those of the long-lived isomers $^{199m\ensuremath{-}193m}\mathrm{Hg}$ already known. The persistence of this spin value for eight isomers is explained by the model of rotation-aligned coupling.