Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Observation of periodic structures of atoms in a two-color MOT

D. M. B. P. Milori, M. A. G. Martinez, A M Tuboy, Luís Gustavo Marcassa, Sérgio Carlos Zílio, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato, J.P. Flemming, Renato Ejnisman

Published Jan 20, 2003• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Summary form only given. We reports on the observation of periodic structures of atoms in a two-color sodium magneto optical trap (MOT). For the first time macrostructures are observed within a MOT environment, i.e., with all the fields necessary to trap the atoms present (inhomogeneous magnetic field, trapping and repump lasers).
DOI
10.1109/qels.1999.807318

Related papers

Observation of periodic structures of atoms in a two-color magneto-optical trap

D. M. B. P. Milori, M. A. G. Martinez, A M Tuboy +5 more

We have observed periodic structures of atoms when a bichromatic laser combination, with frequencies near the $D1$ and $D2$ lines, is used to produce a magneto-optical trap of sodium atoms. These periodic spatial distributions could not be explained on the basis of rectified force. Our interpretation relies on a possible spatial modulation of the damping and spring constants, resulting from the interference between the two atomic transitions.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1999•5 citations

New repumping scheme for a sodium magneto-optical trap

AnnMarie L. Oien, Iain T McKinnie, P. J. Manson +3 more

The role of repumping in the magneto-optical trap (MOT) has often been seen as a necessary evil, requiring the introduction of either an electro-optical modulator or extra laser.1,2 However, repumping can be exploited to improve the performance of the MOT,3 or to study further the behavior of such a trap. We report results of a modified MOT using for repumping the D1 transitions 3S1/2 F = 1 to 3Pl/2 F = 1 and F = 2. Because these wavelengths are well displaced from the usual (D2) repump wavelengths, the direct repump influence on the trapping and cooling laser interaction should be significantly reduced. We also expect further possibilities for cold-atom spectroscopy within the MOT. The possibility of a dark trap with this repumping transition has been suggested.3

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•May 22, 1995•0 citations

Optical repumping and atom number balancing in a two-color MOT

Shubha Deutschle, Lőrinc Sárkány, Milán János Negyedi +3 more

We study a novel repumping transition for $^{88}$Sr atoms trapped in a 'blue' magneto-optical trap. We show that, while the repumping efficiency is about three orders of magnitude smaller than for traditional schemes, it is sufficient for recycling all atoms, provided the repumping laser beams are arranged to form a 'green' magneto- optical trap (MOT) helping to cool and confine the atoms and preventing their loss. Our main findings are: (i) that the green MOT configuration is able to trap 10 times more atoms in the blue MOT than using the green transition merely as a repump, and (ii) that the atom numbers in the two-color MOT can be balanced through experimental control parameters. The interest of this scheme lies in its capability of reaching low temperature and its suitability for continuous atomic beam generation.

quant-pharXiv:2602.21306•Feb 26, 2026•0 citations

Theory of magneto-optical traps for multilevel atoms

Jin Woo Jun, Soo Chang, Taeg Yong Kwon +2 more

Since the first proposal and the first experiment on magneto-optical trapping of atoms, magneto-optical traps (MOT) became the most popular traps for cold atoms. Despite the numerous successful applications of MOT it is still unclear what ultimate parameters could be expected for atoms trapped in MOT. We develop the theory of MOT for cold atoms under the multilevel dipole interaction schemes. Theory is based on consideration of one-dimensional motion of atoms which have three ground-state sublevels (F/sub g/=1) and five upper-state sublevels (F/sub e/=2) and are in inhomogeneous magnetic field and in the field of two counter-propagating circular polarized laser waves. It is shown that in multilevel interaction schemes two-photon processes are responsible for formation of a narrow velocity and spatial structure in the radiation force. It is found that two-photon coherent process enhances considerably the friction force and the oscillation frequency at negative detuning. Single-photon and two-photon processes are shown to produce the two-component structure of the MOT potential and accordingly the two-component coordinate distribution.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim (CLEO-PR)•Jan 20, 2003•0 citations

Dark MOT and magnetic trap of sodium atoms

R. Tajima, S. Hayakawa, T. Miyaharu +3 more

Sodium atoms with a peak density of 3/spl times/10/sup 11/ atom/cm/sup 3/ were confined in a dark magneto optical trap (MOT) and a cloverleaf magnet-coil was designed for magnetic trap.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim (CLEO-PR)•Nov 13, 2002•0 citations

Two-color magneto-optical trap with small magnetic field for ytterbium

Akio Kawasaki, Boris Braverman, Qinqin Yu +1 more

We report a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT) for ytterbium atoms where the slowing and trapping functions are separately performed by the singlet transition light (6s[superscript 2] [superscript 1]S[subscript 0] → 6s6p [superscript 1]P[subscript 1]) and the triplet transition light (6s[superscript 2] [superscript 1]S[subscript 0] → 6s6p [superscript 3]P[subscript 1]), respectively. The two-color MOT is achieved by simultaneously applying laser light on both the broad-linewidth singlet transition and the narrow-linewidth triplet transition. It is highly robust against laser power imbalance even at very low magnetic field gradients, and can operate at magnetic field gradients down to 2 G cm[superscript −1] where a conventional MOT using the singlet transition is unable to trap atoms. We load and trap up to 4.0 × 10[superscript 5] atoms directly from an atomic beam at 700 K.

•May 1, 2015•19 citations
We have observed periodic structures of atoms when a bichromatic laser combination, with frequencies near the D1D1D1 and D2D2D2 lines, is used to produce a magneto-optical trap of sodium atoms. These periodic spatial distributions could not be explained on the basis of rectified force. Our interpretation relies on a possible spatial modulation of the damping and spring constants, resulting from the interference between the two atomic transitions.
The role of repumping in the magneto-optical trap (MOT) has often been seen as a necessary evil, requiring the introduction of either an electro-optical modulator or extra laser.1,2 However, repumping can be exploited to improve the performance of the MOT,3 or to study further the behavior of such a trap. We report results of a modified MOT using for repumping the D1 transitions 3S1/2 F = 1 to 3Pl/2 F = 1 and F = 2. Because these wavelengths are well displaced from the usual (D2) repump wavelengths, the direct repump influence on the trapping and cooling laser interaction should be significantly reduced. We also expect further possibilities for cold-atom spectroscopy within the MOT. The possibility of a dark trap with this repumping transition has been suggested.3
We study a novel repumping transition for 88^{88}88Sr atoms trapped in a 'blue' magneto-optical trap. We show that, while the repumping efficiency is about three orders of magnitude smaller than for traditional schemes, it is sufficient for recycling all atoms, provided the repumping laser beams are arranged to form a 'green' magneto- optical trap (MOT) helping to cool and confine the atoms and preventing their loss. Our main findings are: (i) that the green MOT configuration is able to trap 10 times more atoms in the blue MOT than using the green transition merely as a repump, and (ii) that the atom numbers in the two-color MOT can be balanced through experimental control parameters. The interest of this scheme lies in its capability of reaching low temperature and its suitability for continuous atomic beam generation.
Since the first proposal and the first experiment on magneto-optical trapping of atoms, magneto-optical traps (MOT) became the most popular traps for cold atoms. Despite the numerous successful applications of MOT it is still unclear what ultimate parameters could be expected for atoms trapped in MOT. We develop the theory of MOT for cold atoms under the multilevel dipole interaction schemes. Theory is based on consideration of one-dimensional motion of atoms which have three ground-state sublevels (F/sub g/=1) and five upper-state sublevels (F/sub e/=2) and are in inhomogeneous magnetic field and in the field of two counter-propagating circular polarized laser waves. It is shown that in multilevel interaction schemes two-photon processes are responsible for formation of a narrow velocity and spatial structure in the radiation force. It is found that two-photon coherent process enhances considerably the friction force and the oscillation frequency at negative detuning. Single-photon and two-photon processes are shown to produce the two-component structure of the MOT potential and accordingly the two-component coordinate distribution.
We report a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT) for ytterbium atoms where the slowing and trapping functions are separately performed by the singlet transition light (6s[superscript 2] [superscript 1]S[subscript 0] → 6s6p [superscript 1]P[subscript 1]) and the triplet transition light (6s[superscript 2] [superscript 1]S[subscript 0] → 6s6p [superscript 3]P[subscript 1]), respectively. The two-color MOT is achieved by simultaneously applying laser light on both the broad-linewidth singlet transition and the narrow-linewidth triplet transition. It is highly robust against laser power imbalance even at very low magnetic field gradients, and can operate at magnetic field gradients down to 2 G cm[superscript −1] where a conventional MOT using the singlet transition is unable to trap atoms. We load and trap up to 4.0 × 10[superscript 5] atoms directly from an atomic beam at 700 K.