Magnetic Trapping of Atomic Nitrogen (\(^{14}\)N) and Cotrapping of NH (\(X\)\(^{3}\)\(\Sigma\) -)

Abstract

We observe magnetic trapping of atomic nitrogen (\(^{14}\)N) and cotrapping of ground state imidogen (\(^{14}\)NH, \(X\)\(^{3}\)\(\Sigma\) -). Both are loaded directly from a room temperature beam via buffer gas cooling. We trap approximately 1 x 10\(^{11}\) \(^{14}\)N atoms at a peak density of 5 x 10\(^{11}\) cm\(^{-3}\) at 550 mK. The \(12\pm{4} s 1/e\) lifetime of atomic nitrogen in the trap is limited by elastic collisions with the helium buffer gas. Cotrapping of \(^{14}\)N and \(^{14}\)NH is accomplished, with 10\(^{8}\) NH trapped molecules at a peak density of 10\(^{8}\) cm\(^{-3}\).