Optical Excitation and Trapping of \(^{81}\)Kr

We have realized optical excitation, trapping and detection of the radioisotope \(^{81}\)Kr with an isotopic abundance of 0.9 ppt. The 124 nm light needed for the production of metastable atoms is generated by a resonant discharge lamp. Photon transport through the optically thick krypton gas inside...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Wang, Jie S, Ritterbusch, F, X -Z Dong, Gao, C, H Li, Jiang, W, S -Y Liu, Z -T Lu, W -H Wang, G -M Yang, Y -S Zhang, Z -Y Zhang
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 08.07.2021
Subjects
Discharge lamps
Earth sciences
Excitation
Krypton
Loading rate
Metastable atoms
Physics - Atomic Physics
Radioisotopes
Trapping
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Summary:We have realized optical excitation, trapping and detection of the radioisotope \(^{81}\)Kr with an isotopic abundance of 0.9 ppt. The 124 nm light needed for the production of metastable atoms is generated by a resonant discharge lamp. Photon transport through the optically thick krypton gas inside the lamp is simulated and optimized to enhance both brightness and resonance. We achieve a state-of-the-art \(^{81}\)Kr loading rate of 1800 atoms/h, which can be further scaled up by adding more lamps. The all-optical approach overcomes the limitations on precision and sample size of radiokrypton dating, enabling new applications in the earth sciences, particularly for dating of polar ice cores.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2107.03657