Development of increasingly sensitive detection techniques is necessary for the measurement of extremely small nuclear cross sections that are crucial to understanding many nucleosynthesis processes. To that end, this thesis presents the first steps toward the commissioning of a novel detector, called the single-atom microscope, with a cross section measurement for the reaction $. 201E$Kr$(p,\\gamma). 2026$Rb, by optically imaging rubidium atoms in solid krypton. Techniques for the growth of highly transparent $100 \\, \\mu \ext{m$ thick films of solid noble gases are demonstrated. The absorption cross section for matrix-isolated rubidium in solid krypton is measured to be on the order of $8 \imes 10. {-15 \ext{cm. 2$, with a fluorescence cross section on the order of $2 \imes 10. {-16\\, \ext{cm. 2$. The fluorescence cross section of rubidium atoms embedded in solid krypton as a 1.7 MeV/u ion beam was measured to be $(9 \\pm 4) \imes 10. {-16\\, \ext{cm. 2$. The neutralization efficiency of rubidium ions implanted in solid krypton is measured to be on the order of unity. The next steps toward imaging individual rubidium atoms in solid krypton are presented.
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