Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference
Laser-cooled Rb clocks and juggling atomic fountains
Kurt Gibble
Abstract
Summary form only given. We juggle atoms in an atomic fountain by launching 2 balls of laser-cooled Cs atoms in rapid succession. The 2 balls collide near the top of the fountain and we detect the scattered atoms by measuring the changes in the atoms vertical velocity. Measuring the distribution of the velocity component along the collision axis gives the differential cross section. We scan the collision energy E/sub c/ by varying the time delay between launches and get the differential cross sections as a function of energy.