Efficient photoionization loading of trapped ions with ultrafast pulses

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.74.063421· OSTI ID:20976514

Deslauriers, L; Acton, M; Blinov, B B; Brickman, K -A; Haljan, P C; Hensinger, W K; Hucul, D; Katnik, S; Kohn, Jr, R N; Lee, P J; Madsen, M J; Maunz, P; Olmschenk, S; Moehring, D L; Stick, D; Sterk, J; Yeo, M; Younge, K C; Monroe, C ^[1]

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1. FOCUS Center, Optical Physics Interdisciplinary Laboratory and Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)

Atomic cadmium ions are loaded into radiofrequency ion traps by photoionization of atoms in a cadmium vapor with ultrafast laser pulses. The photoionization is driven through an intermediate atomic resonance with a frequency-quadrupled mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser that produces pulses of either 100-fs or 1-ps duration at a central wavelength of 229 nm. The large bandwidth of the pulses photoionizes all velocity classes of the Cd vapor, resulting in a high loading efficiency compared to previous ion trap loading techniques. Measured loading rates are compared with a simple theoretical model, and we conclude that this technique can potentially ionize every atom traversing the laser beam within the trapping volume. This may allow the operation of ion traps with lower levels of background pressures and less trap electrode surface contamination. The technique and laser system reported here should be applicable to loading most laser-cooled ion species.

• OSTI ID: 20976514
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 74; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
BEAMS
CADMIUM
CADMIUM IONS
CATIONS
COOLING
ELECTRODES
LASER RADIATION
OPERATION
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
PULSES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RESONANCE
TRAPPING
TRAPS
VAPORS
VELOCITY
WAVELENGTHS