Abstract

Recent detection of the magnetic resonance of Cs and Rb atoms in a liquid ⁴He matrix¹ opens a number of possible applications for high precision spin-physics studies, among them, search for permanent electric dipole moment of paramagnetic (EDM) atoms,² and the systematic investigation of the hyperfine anomaly of unstable nuclei.¹ These proposals are based on the fact that long spin relaxation times are expected for such atoms. In practice, however, strong fluctuations due to convection flows have impeded so far high resolution magnetic resonance studies. These problems are intrinsic for liquid helium and can be avoided in a solid helium matrix. Moreover, the analysis of the optical spectra of Ba atoms in pressurized liquid and solid helium³ shows that the isotropy of the trapping site for the implanted atoms is preserved in solid helium. In this contribution we report on the first implantation of Cs atoms into a solid ⁴He matrix and the results of the first studies of the magnetic resonance of such atoms.

© 1994 IEEE