Abstract
We report an experimental apparatus and technique which simultaneously traps ions and cold atoms with spatial overlap. Such an apparatus is motivated by the study of ion–atom processes at temperatures ranging from hot to ultra cold. This area is a largely unexplored domain of physics with cold trapped atoms. In this article we discuss the general design considerations for combining these two traps and present our experimental setup. The ion trap and atom trap are characterized independently of each other. The simultaneous operation of both is then described and experimental signatures of the effect of the ions and cold atoms on each other are presented. In conclusion, the use of such an instrument for several problems in physics and chemistry is briefly discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. Leibfried, R. Blatt, C. Monroe, D. Wineland, Rev. Mod. Phys. 75, 281 (2003)
K. Blaum, Y. Novikov, G. Werth, Contemp. Phys. 51, 149 (2010)
J. Ye, H.J. Kimble, H. Katori, Science 320, 1734 (2008)
A.J. Leggett, Rev. Mod. Phys. 73, 307 (2001)
M.T. Bell, T.P. Softley, Mol. Phys. 107, 99 (2009)
R. Côté, V. Kharchenko, M.D. Lukin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 0930001 (2002)
W.W. Smith, O.P. Makarov, J. Lin, J. Mod. Opt. 52, 2253 (2005)
M. Cetina, A. Grier, J. Campbell, I. Chuang, V. Vuletić, Phys. Rev. A 76, 041401 (2007)
A.T. Grier, M. Cetina, F. Oručević, V. Vuletić, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 223201 (2009)
C. Zipkes, S. Palzer, C. Sias, M. Köhl, Nature 464, 388 (2010)
C. Zipkes, S. Palzer, L. Ratschbacher, C. Sias, M. Köhl, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 133201 (2010)
S. Schmid, A. Härter, J.H. Denschlag, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 133202 (2010)
C. Zipkes, L. Ratschbacher, S. Palzer, C. Sias, M. Köhl, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 264, 012019 (2011)
R. Côté, A. Dalgarno, Phys. Rev. A 62, 012709 (2000)
C. Zhu, A. Dalgarno, S.G. Porsev, A. Derevianko, Phys. Rev. A 70, 032722 (2004)
K. Ravi, S. Lee, A. Sharma, T. Ray, G. Werth, S.A. Rangwala, Phys. Rev. A 81, 031401(R) (2010)
M. Meucci, E. Mariotti, P. Bicchi, C. Marinelli, L. Moi, Europhys. Lett. 25, 639 (1994)
E.B. Alexandrov, M.V. Balabas, D. Budker, D. English, D.F. Kimball, C.-H. Li, V.V. Yashchuk, Phys. Rev. A 66, 042903 (2002)
T. Takekoshi, G.M. Brooke, B.M. Patterson, R.J. Knize, Phys. Rev. A 69, 053411 (2004)
A. Drakoudis, M. Söllner, G. Werth, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 252, 61 (2006)
O.P. Makarov, R. Côté, H. Michels, W.W. Smith, Phys. Rev. A 67, 042705 (2003)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ravi, K., Lee, S., Sharma, A. et al. Combined ion and atom trap for low-temperature ion–atom physics. Appl. Phys. B 107, 971–981 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-011-4726-6
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-011-4726-6