Photoionization and Photoelectric Loading of Barium Ion Traps
arXiv:quant-ph/0702159 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.75.053404
Abstract
Simple and effective techniques for loading barium ions into linear Paul traps are demonstrated. Two-step photoionization of neutral barium is achieved using a weak intercombination line (6s2 1S0 <-> 6s6p 3P1, 791 nm) followed by excitation above the ionization threshold using a nitrogen gas laser (337 nm). Isotopic selectivity is achieved by using a near Doppler-free geometry for excitation of the triplet 6s6p 3P1 state. Additionally, we report a particularly simple and efficient trap loading technique that employs an in-expensive UV epoxy curing lamp to generate photoelectrons.
5 pages, Accepted to PRA 3/20/2007 -fixed typo -clarified figure 3 caption -added reference [15]