Lisa Tung, Northern Illinois University / Argonne National Laboratory

Title:

Authors: L. Tung (Northern Illinois University); Z.-T. Lu (Argonne National Laboratory); K.M. Lewis (Dillard University)

Abstract:   Laser cooling and trapping has found many application in physics.  This project uses laser cooling and trapping methods to do trace analysis of noble gas atoms.  Building a photodetector, Zeeman slower, and RF discharge metastable atom source were the objectives of our summer project.  Due to technical difficulities, the photodetector project was delayed.  However, we were able to design an improved Zeeman slower as well as demonstrate that the RF discharge method is better than the DC method for producing metastable atoms.  Overall, this summer project was successful and we had a lot of fun.