Exchange-Collision Technique for the rf Spectroscopy of Stored Ions

Abstract

A description is given of a technique, whose application to ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ has previously been briefly reported, whereby the rf spectrum of field-confined paramagnetic ions in ultrahigh vacuum is observed through spin-dependent collision processes with a spin-polarized beam of neutral particles. A rf electric quadrupole ion trap is used, and a description of the ion motion, based on the adiabatic approximation, is given, including the effect of randomizing elastic collisions with neutral background particles. With particular reference to the ${({\mathrm{He}}^{3})}^{+}$-Cs system, the rate equations for the magnetic sublevel populations for an ion with $I=\frac{1}{2}$, $J=\frac{1}{2}$ are derived under the simultaneous action of spin exchange and spin-dependent charge exchange with an alkali atom. According to these equations, the relative intensities observed in the $\ensuremath{\Delta}F=0$ transitions of ${({\mathrm{He}}^{3})}^{+}$ indicate that a Cs spin polarization of 0.5 was achieved in the optically pumped atomic beam. The ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ polarization approached that of the Cs atoms. With on-off modulation of the Cs polarization, a total 2% change in the ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ lifetime was observed, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 4, in an interaction period having a duration of 0.8 sec, the optimum value for the observed 0.4-sec lifetime against Cs-induced ion loss. In the absence of the beam, the lifetime was 8 sec at a residual pressure of 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ Torr. The $\ensuremath{\Delta}F=0$ lines obtained with long integration times had a signal-to-noise ratio which indicated that the $\ensuremath{\Delta}F=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ transitions should be observable, as has since been demonstrated.