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Counting individual 41Ca atoms with a magneto-optical trap

I. D. Moore·K. Bailey·J. Greene·Z. -T. Lu·P. Mueller·T. P. O'Connor·Ch. Geppert·K. D. A. Wendt·L. Young
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Abstract

Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA), a novel method based upon laser trapping and cooling, is used to count individual atoms of 41Ca present in biomedical samples with isotopic abundance levels between 10^-8 and 10^-10. ATTA is calibrated against Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry, demonstrating a good agreement between the two methods. The present ATTA system has a counting efficiency of 2x10^-7. Within one hour of observation time, its 3-sigma detection limit on the isotopic abundance of 41Ca reaches 4.5x10^-10.

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I. D. Moore, K. Bailey, J. Greene, Z. -T. Lu, P. Mueller, T. P. O'Connor, Ch. Geppert, K. D. A. Wendt, L. Young. 2003-10-09. Counting individual 41Ca atoms with a magneto-optical trap. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.92.153002

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