Towards a Beta Asymmetry Measurement of Polarized Radioactive Atoms in an Optical Dipole Trap

Laser cooled and trapped radioactive atoms provide an ideal sample for studying parity violation in beta decay. We present recent progress in undertaking a high precision beta-recoil measurement of radioactive $^{82}$Rb atoms in an optical tweezer. We have demonstrated the loading of $^{82}$Rb atoms from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to a far off resonance dipole trap formed by a YAG laser and observed the evidence of spontaneous spin polarization of atoms in optical dipole trap loading [1]. We'll present the latest progress in polarizing the sample with optical pumping and precision measurement of the sample polarization. In our proposed beta asymmetry measurement, we plan to load $^{82}$Rb atoms from a MOT into an optical tweezer and then beam the atoms down to a science chamber where the atoms will be polarized and their beta decay will be measured. \newline [1] Trapping radioactive $^{82}$Rb in an optical dipole trap and evidence of spontaneous spin polarization. D. Feldbaum, H. Wang, D. Vieira and X. Zhao. Physical Review A 76, 051402(R) (2007).