AIP conference proceedings

Magnetic trapping of neutral atoms

T. H. Bergeman, H. Metcalf

Published Jan 1, 1987• 1 citation

Abstract

We have been studying the use of inhomogeneous magnetic fields for the trapping of neutral atoms via the interaction with their magnetic moments. Apart from gravitational forces (which may turn out to be of great importance in atom traps), only electromagnetic forces are of real interest for trapping neutral atoms, and these forces must necessarily arise from the interaction of multipole moments and inhomogeneous fields. In this paper we restrict ourselves to static traps and magnetic dipoles, even though optical, quasi‐static, and Stark effect traps have been discussed. We present some discussion of the field configurations that might be used, of the motion of ‘‘warm’’ trapped atoms (about 1 K), and of the states of ‘‘cold’’ trapped atoms (about 0.1 μK). The basic scale of the interaction is set by the ratio of the Bohr magneton to the Boltzmann constant, about 1.5 Tesla/Kelvin.

DOI: 10.1063/1.36786

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