We have examined loading of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms into a shallow far-off-resonance trap (FORT) from an optical molasses stage following a magneto-optical trap (MOT) stage and compared it to loading from a MOT stage only. Substantially more atoms could be loaded into the FORT using an optical molasses. To determine why this was the case, we measured the rate of atoms loaded into the FORT and the losses from the FORT during both loading processes over a range of detunings and hyperfine pump powers. We found that the losses induced during MOT loading were essentially the same as the losses induced during molasses loading and decreased with increased red detuning; however, we found that the differences in load rate caused an optical molasses to optimize at a greater detuning, improving the number of atoms we could trap by a factor of 2 over that of optimal loading from a MOT.We have examined loading of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms into a shallow far-off-resonance trap (FORT) from an optical molasses stage following a magneto-optical trap (MOT) stage and compared it to loading from a MOT stage only. Substantially more atoms could be loaded into the FORT using an optical molasses. To determine why this was the case, we measured the rate of atoms loaded into the FORT and the losses from the FORT during both loading processes over a range of detunings and hyperfine pump powers. We found that the losses induced during MOT loading were essentially the same as the losses induced during molasses loading and decreased with increased red detuning; however, we found that the differences in load rate caused an optical molasses to optimize at a greater detuning, improving the number of atoms we could trap by a factor of 2 over that of optimal loading from a MOT.

arXiv:0811.0410Physical Review AJan 21, 20096 citations

Loading atoms in a bi-dimensional light trap

Pierre Desbiolles, Jean Dalibard

Optics CommunicationsDec 1, 199630 citations

Trapping of Single Atoms in an Off-Resonance Optical Dipole Trap

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksDec 1, 20060 citations

A linear array of 11 double-loop microtraps for ultracold atoms

Bin Jian, William Arie van Wijngaarden

A linear array of 11 closely spaced microtraps was demonstrated. Each microtrap was created using the magnetic field generated by two concentric circular wire loops having radii of 60 and 132 μ m carrying oppositely oriented currents as well as a bias magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the atom chip surface containing the microwire loops. 87 Rb atoms were initially cooled using either a surface magneto-optical trap (MOT) or a far off resonance optical dipole trap (FORT) created using an infrared laser directed along the microtrap array axis. The microtrap current was turned on and over 12 000 atoms were loaded into each microtrap. The advantage of FORT loading was that the 11 microtraps were about equally populated and the microtrapped atom temperature of 11 μ K was one quarter of that obtained using the MOT.A linear array of 11 closely spaced microtraps was demonstrated. Each microtrap was created using the magnetic field generated by two concentric circular wire loops having radii of 60 and 132 μ m carrying oppositely oriented currents as well as a bias magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the atom chip surface containing the microwire loops. 87 Rb atoms were initially cooled using either a surface magneto-optical trap (MOT) or a far off resonance optical dipole trap (FORT) created using an infrared laser directed along the microtrap array axis. The microtrap current was turned on and over 12 000 atoms were loaded into each microtrap. The advantage of FORT loading was that the 11 microtraps were about equally populated and the microtrapped atom temperature of 11 μ K was one quarter of that obtained using the MOT.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsOct 15, 20144 citations

We have examined loading of

^{85}\mathrm{Rb}

atoms into a shallow far-off-resonance trap (FORT) from an optical molasses stage following a magneto-optical trap (MOT) stage and compared it to loading from a MOT stage only. Substantially more atoms could be loaded into the FORT using an optical molasses. To determine why this was the case, we measured the rate of atoms loaded into the FORT and the losses from the FORT during both loading processes over a range of detunings and hyperfine pump powers. We found that the losses induced during MOT loading were essentially the same as the losses induced during molasses loading and decreased with increased red detuning; however, we found that the differences in load rate caused an optical molasses to optimize at a greater detuning, improving the number of atoms we could trap by a factor of 2 over that of optimal loading from a MOT.