Magneto-optical trapping of erbium atoms: trapping without repumping

Albert Frisch, K. Aikawa, Manfred J. Mark +5 more

Alexander Rietzler

Mikhail Gurov, Elena G. Gurova, А. К. Дмитриев

Shubha Deutschle, L. Sárkány, Milán János Negyedi +3 more

Jabez J. McClelland, J. Hanssen

We report on a novel mechanism that allows for strong laser cooling of atoms that do not have a closed cycling transition. This mechanism is observed in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for erbium, an atom with a very complex energy level structure with multiple pathways for optical-pumping losses. We observe surprisingly high trap populations of over 10(6) atoms and densities of over 10(11) atoms cm(-3), despite the many potential loss channels. A model based on recycling of metastable and ground state atoms held in the quadrupole magnetic field of the trap explains the high trap population, and agrees well with time-dependent measurements of MOT fluorescence. The demonstration of trapping of a rare-earth atom such as erbium opens a wide range of new possibilities for practical applications and fundamental studies with cold atoms.

Junxian Fu, Xuzong Chen, Yi-min Li +2 more

A magneto-optical trap (MOT) for cesium atoms that operates without a separate repumping laser is reported. The differences between a normal MOT and this kind of MOT have been experimentally studied. The influences of a repumping laser on cooling and trapping cesium atoms in the MOT have been carefully investigated. The results reveal that it is the critical injection-locked state of the diode laser that makes magneto-optical trapping of cesium atoms possible without a separate repumping laser.