Optical dipole trapping of short-lived radioactive $^{82}$Rb

The application of the techniques of laser cooling and trapping of radioactive atoms holds a great promise for fundamental measurements. To date only a few radioactive isotopes have been trapped in MOTs and/or in magnetic traps. All-optical trapping of radioactive atoms has not, until now, been demonstrated. Optical dipole trapping may be the most desirable method, as it introduces less systematic problems in certain cases.~ We have experimentally demonstrated the trapping of short-lived $^{82}$Rb in an optical lattice, and we plan to study the optical pumping of these atoms into a stretched state for polarization studies. Our latest results will be presented.