Abstract
We have realized optical excitation, trapping, and detection of the radioisotope 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 loading rate of , 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.
- Received 16 March 2021
- Accepted 1 June 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.023201
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