First ions in our cryogenic surface trap

A string of three beryllium ions in our surface trap

We have trapped the first beryllium ions in our cryogenic surface trap. As in our surface traps at room temperature, the ions were loaded by laser ablation from a beryllium wire and subsequent multiphoton ionization. The picture shows a string of three beryllium ions imaged with a CCD camera through fluorescence detection.

Many thanks to all colleagues who contributed to this success!