Enhancing non-destructive mass identification via Fourier-transform fluorescence analysis

TL;DR

This paper introduces a non-destructive method for identifying ion mass using Fourier-transform fluorescence analysis, achieving high resolution and rapid measurement times in calcium ion Coulomb crystals.

Contribution

It presents a novel Fourier-transform fluorescence technique for non-destructive, rapid, and high-resolution mass identification of single ions in Coulomb crystals.

Findings

Mass resolving power of approximately 310 achieved.

Identification completed within less than one second.

Method applicable to single ions in Coulomb crystals.

Abstract

Single-ion mass identification is important for atomic and nuclear physics experiments on ions produced with low yields. Cooling the ion to ultra-low temperatures by interacting with a laser-cooled ion will enhance the precision of the measurements. In this paper we present axial-common-mode frequency measurements of balanced and unbalanced Coulomb crystals from the Fourier transform of the fluorescence photons from a Doppler-cooling transition in calcium ions, after probing the ion/crystal with a 5-radiofrequency comb. A single ion non-destructively detected can be used for identification yielding a mass resolving power $m/\Delta m_\mathrm{FWHM}\approx 310$ from the axial common mode. This identification can be performed from a single measurement within times below one second.