6533b7ddfe1ef96bd1274b52

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Counting individual 41Ca atoms with a magneto-optical trap

I. D. MooreK. BaileyJ. GreeneZ. -T. LuP. MuellerT. P. O'connorCh. GeppertK. D. A. WendtL. Young

subject

Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph)Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph)FOS: Physical sciencesPhysics - Biological PhysicsPhysics - Atomic Physics

description

Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA), a novel method based upon laser trapping and cooling, is used to count individual atoms of 41Ca present in biomedical samples with isotopic abundance levels between 10^-8 and 10^-10. ATTA is calibrated against Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry, demonstrating a good agreement between the two methods. The present ATTA system has a counting efficiency of 2x10^-7. Within one hour of observation time, its 3-sigma detection limit on the isotopic abundance of 41Ca reaches 4.5x10^-10.

https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.physics/0310045