Extended Data Fig. 3: Time sequence of single-atom detection.
From: Atom-trap trace analysis of 41Ca/Ca down to the 10–17 level
Status of atom beam, Zeeman slower (ZS) laser, magneto-optical trap (MOT) laser, and CCD camera are shown. The repump laser beam (453-nm) is kept on constantly. The atomic beam is switched by a mechanical chopper with 18-ms rising/falling edges. A 500-ms period is divided into three phases: loading, detection and releasing. Single 41Ca atoms are captured into the MOT in the loading phase, detected in the detection phase, and released from the MOT in the releasing phase.
