An efficient trap of {sup 221}Fr atoms

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:560295

Lu, Z T; Corwin, K L; Vogel, K R; Wieman, C E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); and others

Francium, the heaviest alkali, is the ideal candidate for the next generation of experiments that study atomic parity non-conversion(PNC) effects or search for a CP-violating permanent atomic electric dipole moment(EDM). Since all francium isotopes are radioactive and have half-lives of 22 minutes or less, a highly efficient atom trap is needed to provide a sufficient sample for PNC or EDM experiments. Using an improved vapor cell magneto-optical trap, we have demonstrated an efficient trap of {sup 221}Fr(t{sub {1/2}}=5m) atoms. The 4cm cube cell has a geometry optimized for a high trap loading rate and its walls are coated with dryfilm to slow the loss of francium atoms to the walls. Produced from the decay of {sup 225}Ac(t{sub {1/2}}=10d), the francium atoms are efficiently transferred into the cell using a novel orthotropic oven. We have also measured the atomic hyperfine structure of the excited 7P{sub 3/2} and 7P{sub {1/2}} levels of {sup 221}Fr.

• OSTI ID: 560295
• Report Number(s): CONF-970443--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
FRANCIUM 221
HYPERFINE STRUCTURE
PARITY
TRAPPING