0000000000324388
AUTHOR
O. Becker
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.
On the possible determination of hyperfine anomalies by trapped ion spectroscopy
Abstract Laser-microwave double-resonance techniques in radiofrequency (rf) traps and Penning traps represent a powerful tool to determine hyperfine structure splittings as well as nuclear g factors to high precision. While hyperfine structure constants have been determined in a number of cases below the 10 −10 level of precision, electronic g factors have been measured to 10 −7 and there are good prospects of obtaining similar accuracy for g l . Moreover sensitive techniques have been developed for injection of ions from outside the trap. This opens the possibility to determine hyperfine anomalies at least to the 1% level of precision for chains of unstable isotopes.
Hyperfine structure andg-factor measurements in ion traps
We report about measurements on ground-state hyperfine splitting constants of stable Eu+ isotopes in radio frequency ion traps and experiments on the electronicg-factor of Ba+ in a Penning trap. From the precision of both measurements, which ranges between 3·10−6 and 5·10−7, we conclude that precise determination of the differential Bohr-Weisskopf effect in chains of isotopes will be possible in the near future.