Ultrasensitive detection of radioactive cesium isotopes using a magneto-optical trap.
- Michael D.
- Scott G.
- Jason J.
- Wayne A.
- David J.
- Xinxin
We report the first magneto-optical trapping of mdioactive {sup 135}Cs and {sup 137}Cs and a promising means for detecting these isotopes to ullrasensilive lcvels by a system coupling the magneto-optical trap (MOT) to a mass separator. The mass separator efficiently delivers a 20 kV ion beam of either isotope into a quartzcube MOT cell having in one corner a small-diameter Zr foil, on which the ion beam is focused and into which the ions are implantetl. Inductive heating of thc foil releases {approx}45% of the implanted atoms into a MOT that uses large diameter beams and a dry-film coating to capture 3% of the released vapor. MOT fluorescence signals were found to increasc linearly with the number of foil-implanted atoms over a range of 10{sup 4} to 10{sup 7} in trapped-atom number. The measured slope of MOT signal versus number implanted was equal in the case each isotope to within 4%, signifying our ability to measure {sup 137}Cs/{sup 135}Cs ratios to within 4%. The isotopic selectivities of the mass separator and MOT combine to suppress interfering signal from {sup 133}Cs by a factor of greater than 5 x 10{sup 12} in the case of detecting {sup 135}Cs or {sup 137}Cs. Our present sample detection sensitivity is one million atoms.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE
- OSTI ID:
- 976067
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-02-0621; LA-UR-02-621
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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