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Laser resonance ionization is a highly sensitive and selective technique used for isolating isotopes via stepwise excitation. Hyperfine splitting of odd isotopes introduces degenerate hyperfine states. In the presence of an external magnetic field these states change their electronic angular momentum in time which can be used to induce transitions that would ordinarily be forbidden by atomic fine structure selection rules. This technique is used to prevent even isotopes from absorbing electromagnetic radiation with well-defined polarization states beyond the initial excitation [1]. This technique and the effect of associated laser beam parameters are investigated using a 3 step ionization scheme for Ytterbium. Ytterbium naturally has multiple odd and even isotopes making it a suitable candidate. Ytterbium-171 is of particular interest for its application as a hyperfine qubit [2] and will be the target isotope of the investigation.
[1] Waso, F.J., Steenkamp, C.M. Polarization-based selective photoionization of 67Zn in a weak external magnetic field. Applied Optics 64(9), C119-C126 (2025)
[2] Olmschenk, S. Manipulation and detection of a trapped Yb171+ hyperfine qubit. Physical Review A. 76 (5): 052314 (2007).
| Apply for student award at which level: | MSc |
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