© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

arXiv:2109.09899 · Physical Review A

Stimulated slowing of Yb atoms on the narrow 1S0 → 3P1 transition

Tanaporn Na Narong, Tianmin Liu, Nikhil Raghuram, Leo W. Hollberg

Published Nov 29, 2021• 3 citations

Abstract

We analyzed bichromatic and polychromatic stimulated forces for laser cooling and trapping of Yb atoms using only the narrow ${}^{1}{S}_{0}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ transition. Our model is based on numerical solutions of optical Bloch equations for two-level atoms driven by multiple time-dependent fields combined with Monte Carlo simulations, which account for realistic experimental conditions such as atomic beam divergence, geometry, and Gaussian laser modes. Using 1 W of laser power, we predict a loading rate of $\ensuremath{\approx}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{10}^{8}$ atoms/s into a 556-nm magneto-optical trap (MOT) with a slowing force of $\ensuremath{\approx}60{F}_{\text{rad}}$. We show that a square-wave modulation can produce similar stimulated forces with almost twice the velocity range and improve the MOT loading rate of Yb atoms by up to 70%.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.104.053117

Related papers

Stimulated Slowing of Yb Atoms on the Narrow 1S0 →3P1 Transition

Tanaporn Na Narong, Leo W. Hollberg

We propose a method for slowing, cooling and trapping Yb atoms using stimulated forces and only the 1S0 → 3P1 transition. With laser frequency chirp, our computer simulation predicts a MOT loading rate over 108 atoms/s.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Crossed-beam slowing to enhance narrow-line ytterbium magneto-optic traps

Benjamin Plotkin-Swing, Anna Wirth-Singh, Daniel Gochnauer +3 more

We demonstrate a method to enhance the atom loading rate of a ytterbium (Yb) magneto-optic trap (MOT) operating on the 556 nm 1S0 → 3P1 intercombination transition (narrow linewidth Γg = 2π × 182 kHz). Following traditional Zeeman slowing of an atomic beam near the 399 nm 1S0 → 1P1 transition (broad linewidth Γp = 2π × 29 MHz), two laser beams in a crossed-beam geometry, frequency tuned near the same transition, provide additional slowing immediately prior to the MOT. Using this technique, we observe an improvement by a factor of 6 in the atom loading rate of a narrow-line Yb MOT. The relative simplicity and generality of this approach make it readily adoptable to other experiments involving narrow-line MOTs. We also present a numerical simulation of this two-stage slowing process, which shows good agreement with the observed dependence on experimental parameters, and use it to assess potential improvements to the method.

arXiv:2004.10298•Review of Scientific Instruments•Sep 1, 2020•17 citations

Atomic fountain of laser-cooled Yb atoms for precision measurements

Kanhaiya Pandey, Ketan D. Rathod, Alok K. Singh +1 more

We demonstrate launching of laser-cooled Yb atoms in a cold atomic fountain. Atoms in a collimated thermal beam are first cooled and captured in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) operating on the strongly allowed ${{}^{1}S}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{}^{1}P}_{1}$ transition at 399 nm (blue line). They are then transferred to a MOT on the weakly allowed ${{}^{1}S}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{}^{3}P}_{1}$ transition at 556 nm (green line). Cold atoms from the green MOT are launched against gravity at a velocity of around 2.5 m/s using a pair of green beams. We trap more than ${10}^{7}$ atoms in the blue MOT and transfer up to $70%$ into the green MOT. The temperature for the odd isotope $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ is $~1 \mathrm{mK}$ in the blue MOT, and reduces by a factor of 40 in the green MOT.

arXiv:1008.3224•Physical Review A•Oct 25, 2010•14 citations

Loading of a large Yb MOT on the 1 S 0 → 1 P 1 transition

Hector Letellier, Álvaro Mitchell Galvão de Melo, A. Dorne +1 more

We present an experimental setup to laser cool and trap a large number of ytterbium atoms. Our design uses an oven with an array of micro-tubes for efficient collimation of the atomic beam, and we implement a magneto-optical trap of 174Yb on the 1S0 → 1P1 transition at 399 nm. Despite the absence of a Zeeman slower, we obtain a loading of 4 × 109 at./s. We trap up to N = 109 at., where light-assisted collisions become the dominant loss mechanism. We precisely characterize our atomic beam, the loading rate of the magneto-optical trap, and several loss mechanisms relevant for trapping a large number of atoms.

arXiv:2308.00387•Review of Scientific Instruments•Dec 1, 2023•12 citations

Atom-number amplification in a magneto-optical trap via stimulated light forces

Tara Cubel Liebisch, E. Blanshan, Elizabeth A. Donley +1 more

We decelerated an atomic beam of ${}^{87}$Rb using a stimulated-emission slowing technique that employs a bichromatic standing light wave of high intensity, and increased the atom number in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of low capture velocity by up to a factor of 14, and the load rate into the MOT by a factor of 20. We performed the slowing over distances under 1.5 cm with 5.2 mW of total power in the bichromatic beams. The average stimulated force was 2.2 times the maximum spontaneous emission force, and could be made even stronger in a smaller apparatus.

Physical Review A•Jan 10, 2012•16 citations

Efficient Loading of an Yb MOT on the 1S0 → 1P1 Transition

Zhufang Zhao, Shunxiang Wang, Jun Jian +5 more

We demonstrate efficient loading of an Yb three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D MOT) on the 1S0 → 1P1 transition. The experiment employs a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT) as an efficient cold atom source. Through optimization of the 2D MOT, auxiliary Zeeman slower, and push beam parameters that govern atomic capture, we achieve an atomic loading rate of 5 × 106 atoms/s in the 3D MOT, with approximately ∼107 trapped atoms. Our experimental results confirm the successful transfer of a substantial number of atoms from the 2D region to the science chamber via the push beam, providing an experimental foundation for subsequent implementation of narrow-line MOT and two-color MOT.

Photonics•Oct 28, 2025•1 citation

We analyzed bichromatic and polychromatic stimulated forces for laser cooling and trapping of Yb atoms using only the narrow

{}^{1}{S}_{0}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{3}{P}_{1}

transition. Our model is based on numerical solutions of optical Bloch equations for two-level atoms driven by multiple time-dependent fields combined with Monte Carlo simulations, which account for realistic experimental conditions such as atomic beam divergence, geometry, and Gaussian laser modes. Using 1 W of laser power, we predict a loading rate of

\ensuremath{\approx}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{10}^{8}

atoms/s into a 556-nm magneto-optical trap (MOT) with a slowing force of

\ensuremath{\approx}60{F}_{\text{rad}}

. We show that a square-wave modulation can produce similar stimulated forces with almost twice the velocity range and improve the MOT loading rate of Yb atoms by up to 70%.

We demonstrate a method to enhance the atom loading rate of a ytterbium (Yb) magneto-optic trap (MOT) operating on the 556 nm 1S0 → 3P1 intercombination transition (narrow linewidth Γg = 2π × 182 kHz). Following traditional Zeeman slowing of an atomic beam near the 399 nm 1S0 → 1P1 transition (broad linewidth Γp = 2π × 29 MHz), two laser beams in a crossed-beam geometry, frequency tuned near the same transition, provide additional slowing immediately prior to the MOT. Using this technique, we observe an improvement by a factor of 6 in the atom loading rate of a narrow-line Yb MOT. The relative simplicity and generality of this approach make it readily adoptable to other experiments involving narrow-line MOTs. We also present a numerical simulation of this two-stage slowing process, which shows good agreement with the observed dependence on experimental parameters, and use it to assess potential improvements to the method.

We demonstrate launching of laser-cooled Yb atoms in a cold atomic fountain. Atoms in a collimated thermal beam are first cooled and captured in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) operating on the strongly allowed ${{}^{1}S}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{}^{1}P}_{1}$ transition at 399 nm (blue line). They are then transferred to a MOT on the weakly allowed ${{}^{1}S}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{}^{3}P}_{1}$ transition at 556 nm (green line). Cold atoms from the green MOT are launched against gravity at a velocity of around 2.5 m/s using a pair of green beams. We trap more than

{10}^{7}

atoms in the blue MOT and transfer up to

70%

into the green MOT. The temperature for the odd isotope

^{171}\mathrm{Yb}

is

~1 \mathrm{mK}

in the blue MOT, and reduces by a factor of 40 in the green MOT.

We present an experimental setup to laser cool and trap a large number of ytterbium atoms. Our design uses an oven with an array of micro-tubes for efficient collimation of the atomic beam, and we implement a magneto-optical trap of 174Yb on the 1S0 → 1P1 transition at 399 nm. Despite the absence of a Zeeman slower, we obtain a loading of 4 × 109 at./s. We trap up to N = 109 at., where light-assisted collisions become the dominant loss mechanism. We precisely characterize our atomic beam, the loading rate of the magneto-optical trap, and several loss mechanisms relevant for trapping a large number of atoms.

We decelerated an atomic beam of

{}^{87}

Rb using a stimulated-emission slowing technique that employs a bichromatic standing light wave of high intensity, and increased the atom number in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of low capture velocity by up to a factor of 14, and the load rate into the MOT by a factor of 20. We performed the slowing over distances under 1.5 cm with 5.2 mW of total power in the bichromatic beams. The average stimulated force was 2.2 times the maximum spontaneous emission force, and could be made even stronger in a smaller apparatus.

We demonstrate efficient loading of an Yb three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D MOT) on the 1S0 → 1P1 transition. The experiment employs a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT) as an efficient cold atom source. Through optimization of the 2D MOT, auxiliary Zeeman slower, and push beam parameters that govern atomic capture, we achieve an atomic loading rate of 5 × 106 atoms/s in the 3D MOT, with approximately ∼107 trapped atoms. Our experimental results confirm the successful transfer of a substantial number of atoms from the 2D region to the science chamber via the push beam, providing an experimental foundation for subsequent implementation of narrow-line MOT and two-color MOT.