Precise Atomic and Nuclear Physics Experiments with Trapped ^21Na
Abstract
We have recently observed 40,000 trapped ^21Na atoms in our experiment at the LBNL 88'' Cyclotron. Our bigger improved traps are due to redesign of our production target and oven assembly, yielding brighter atomic beams from our Zeeman-slowing apparatus. We are currently refining our technique to measure the 1.9 GHz ground state hyperfine splitting of ^21Na. Using a pulsed trap-pump-probe scheme, we anticipate a precision better than 100 Hz with our current trap sizes and based on studies using stable ^23Na. We have observed the β ^+ from our trapped atoms using an in-vacuum plastic scintillator, and also the β and γ backgrounds present in our trapping chamber. These measurements will guide several planned improvements to our apparatus to achieve larger traps and cleaner β signals. We estimate that 100,000 trapped ^21Na atoms will be necessary for a precise 1% measurement of the parity violating beta decay asymmetry parameter, which would probe for possible right-handed charged electroweak currents. Current status and data will be presented. Be there or be square. <A HREF=http://www.physics1.berkeley.edu/research/ freedman/webpages/laser_trapping.html>our experiment</A>
- Publication:
-
APS April Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- April 1997
- Bibcode:
- 1997APS..APR.B1008V