Laser cooling and trapping of $^{224}$Ra$^+$

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates laser cooling and trapping of radioactive $^{224}$Ra$^+$ ions using a novel thorium-based source, and measures the ion's transition frequency, providing valuable data for future experiments involving radium isotopes.

Contribution

It introduces a continuous radium source via thorium decay for ion trapping and reports the first measurement of the $^{224}$Ra transition frequency, aiding future quantum and nuclear physics research.

Findings

Successful trapping of $^{224}$Ra$^+$ ions for over 6 months.

Measured the $^{224}$Ra transition frequency as 621,043,830(60) MHz.

Discovered a discrepancy with the NIST database value for the same transition.

Abstract

We report laser cooling and trapping of $^{224}$Ra$^+$ ions. This was realized via two-step photoionization loading of radium into an ion trap. A robust source for $^{224}$Ra atoms, which have a 3.6-day half-life, was realized with an effusive oven containing $^{228}$Th, which has a 1.9-yr half-life, which continuously generates $^{224}$Ra via its $\alpha$-decay. We characterized the efficacy of this source and found that after depleting built-up radium the thorium decay provides a continuous source of radium atoms suitable for ion trapping. The vacuum system has been sealed for more than 6 months and continues to trap ions on demand. We also report a measurement of the $^{224}$Ra $7s^2\ ^1$S$_0 \rightarrow 7s7p\ ^1$P$_1$ transition frequency: 621 043 830(60) MHz, which is helpful for efficient photoionization. With this measurement and previous isotope shift measurements we find that the frequency of the same transition in $^{226}$Ra is 621 037 830(60) MHz, which disagrees with the most precise measurement, 621 038 489(15) MHz, which is used for the recommended value in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Atomic Spectra Database.