Implementing Transverse Laser Cooling and a 2D Magneto-Optical Trap for Atom Trap Trace Analysis

Atom trap trace analysis (ATTA) has significant implications for fundamental research of atomic and nuclear properties. Improving the efficiency of laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms, therefore, is crucial to detecting and analyzing extremely rare isotopes. Our current research focuses on increasing the efficiency of the ATTA system, with the ultimate goal of "fingerprinting" trace amounts of rare isotopes. By adding transverse laser cooling and a 2-dimensional (2D) magneto-optical trap (MOT) before the atom trapping region, we hope to condense the wide spray of atoms and funnel a larger proportion of the original gas sample into the trapping chamber. We anticipate that making these additions will greatly increase the efficiency of the ATTA system, which will enable easier experimental fingerprinting of rare isotopes. The efficiency of this new system will be quantified by the rate at which atoms accumulate in the trapping chamber (load rate). We will analyze the load rate under a variety of different experimental conditions for both the transverse cooling and 2D MOT regions. We will discuss the impact these improvements have on our ability to laser cool, trap, and detect rare xenon radioactive isotopes.