A new method of ultra-sensitive isotope trace analysis has recently been developed. This method, named Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA), is based on the technique of laser manipulation of neutral atoms. It has been used to count individual ⁸⁵Kr and ⁸¹Kr atoms present in a natural krypton gas sample with isotopic abundance in the range of 10^-11 and 10^-13 respectively. ATTA can be applied to many isotope tracers for a wide range of applications in environmental sciences, technology of nuclear waste management, etc, as well as fundamental physics. In this talk, I will explain the motivation, mechanism, and future prospect of ATTA.

ANL Physics Division Colloquium Schedule