Exploration of laser-excitation of Kr

Isotopic detection of the isotopes of Krypton has many important applications in atmospheric science [Zheng-Tian Lu and Peter Mueller, Chapter 4~-~\textit{Atom Trap Trace Analysis of Rare Noble Gas Isotopes}, Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, Volume 58, 2010, Pages 173-205]. It has been shown that laser cooling and trapping of metastable Kr ($5s\,{\kern 1pt}[3/2]_2 )$ is an effective means to achieve detection efficiencies of 1 part in$10^{12}$. A limiting factor in these studies is the production of metastable Kr, which is currently implemented using an RF discharge [C. Y. Chen et al., \textit{Beam of metastable krypton atoms extracted from a rf-driven discharge}, Review of scientific instruments, Volume 72, No.1, 2001]. Here we report on the success of several experimental attempts at laser-based excitation.