In this article we describe the design, construction and implementation of our ion-atom hybrid system incorporating a high resolution time of flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). Potassium atoms ($^{ 39}$K) in a Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) and laser cooled calcium ions ($^{ 40}$Ca$^+$) in a linear Paul trap are spatially overlapped and the combined trap is integrated with a TOFMS for radial extraction and detection of reaction products. We also present some experimental results showing interactions between $^{ 39}$K$^+$ and $^{ 39}$K, $^{ 40}$Ca$^+$ and $^{ 39}$K$^+$ as well as $^{ 40}$Ca$^+$ and $^{ 39}$K pairs. Finally, we discuss prospects for cooling CaH$^+$ molecular ions in the hybrid ion-atom system.
Categories: physics.atom-ph quant-ph