We report a way to overcome heating due to the reabsorption of scattered light when relatively many atoms are laser cooled at high density. A sample of $8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}\mathrm{Cs}$ atoms, with $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}{\mathrm{atoms}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3},$ is loaded into a deep far-detuned one-dimensional optical lattice, which acts as a large volume three-dimensional (3D) trap. Polarization gradient cooling with a separate set of cooling beams is found to work well in this trap, populating the trap's vibrational ground state with more than half the atoms. After cooling, the lattice is shut off adiabatically, leaving a still dense sample at 1.2 \ensuremath{\mu}K. We propose and demonstrate a generalization to a 3D lattice, which will allow many more atoms to be loaded into conservative light traps, and can greatly increase the initial phase-space density for loading magnetic traps.We report a way to overcome heating due to the reabsorption of scattered light when relatively many atoms are laser cooled at high density. A sample of $8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}\mathrm{Cs}$ atoms, with $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}{\mathrm{atoms}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3},$ is loaded into a deep far-detuned one-dimensional optical lattice, which acts as a large volume three-dimensional (3D) trap. Polarization gradient cooling with a separate set of cooling beams is found to work well in this trap, populating the trap's vibrational ground state with more than half the atoms. After cooling, the lattice is shut off adiabatically, leaving a still dense sample at 1.2 \ensuremath{\mu}K. We propose and demonstrate a generalization to a 3D lattice, which will allow many more atoms to be loaded into conservative light traps, and can greatly increase the initial phase-space density for loading magnetic traps.

Physical Review AJan 1, 199970 citations

Catching atoms in beams of light

John Maddox

NatureJul 31, 19862 citations

Pushing atoms with light

Andreas Osterwalder

Nature PhotonicsMay 29, 20121 citation

Trapping Yb171 atoms into a one-dimensional optical lattice with a small waist

Akio Kawasaki, Boris Braverman, Edwin Pedrozo-Peñafiel +4 more

In most experiments with atoms trapped in optical lattices, the transverse size of the optical lattice beams is of the order of tens of micrometers, and loading many atoms into smaller optical lattices has not been carefully investigated. We report trapping 1500 $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice generated by a narrow cavity mode at a distance of 0.14 mm from a mirror surface. The simplest approach of loading atoms from a mirror magneto-optical trap overlapped with the cavity mode allows the adjustment of the loading position by tuning a uniform bias magnetic field. The number of atoms trapped in the optical lattice exhibits two local maxima for different lattice depths, with a global maximum in the deeper lattice. These results open a way to quantum mechanical manipulation of atoms based on strong interaction with a tightly focused light field.In most experiments with atoms trapped in optical lattices, the transverse size of the optical lattice beams is of the order of tens of micrometers, and loading many atoms into smaller optical lattices has not been carefully investigated. We report trapping 1500 $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice generated by a narrow cavity mode at a distance of 0.14 mm from a mirror surface. The simplest approach of loading atoms from a mirror magneto-optical trap overlapped with the cavity mode allows the adjustment of the loading position by tuning a uniform bias magnetic field. The number of atoms trapped in the optical lattice exhibits two local maxima for different lattice depths, with a global maximum in the deeper lattice. These results open a way to quantum mechanical manipulation of atoms based on strong interaction with a tightly focused light field.

arXiv:2002.10042Physical Review AJul 29, 20206 citations

Fast and efficient loading of a Rb magneto-optical trap using light-induced atomic desorption

Sergey Nikitich Atutov, R. Calabrese, V. Guidi +10 more

We have obtained fast loading of a rubidium magneto-optical trap and very high collection efficiency by capturing the atoms desorbed by a light flash from a polydimethylsiloxane film deposited on the internal surface of a cell. The atoms are trapped with an effective loading time of about 65 ms at a loading rate greater than $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ atoms per second. This rate is larger than the values reported in literature and is obtained by preserving a long lifetime of the trapped atoms. This lifetime exceeds the filling time by nearly two orders of magnitude. Trap loading by light-induced desorption from siloxane compounds can be very effectively applied to store and trap a large number of atoms in the case of very weak atomic flux or extremely low vapor density. It can be also effectively used for fast production of ultracold atoms.We have obtained fast loading of a rubidium magneto-optical trap and very high collection efficiency by capturing the atoms desorbed by a light flash from a polydimethylsiloxane film deposited on the internal surface of a cell. The atoms are trapped with an effective loading time of about 65 ms at a loading rate greater than $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ atoms per second. This rate is larger than the values reported in literature and is obtained by preserving a long lifetime of the trapped atoms. This lifetime exceeds the filling time by nearly two orders of magnitude. Trap loading by light-induced desorption from siloxane compounds can be very effectively applied to store and trap a large number of atoms in the case of very weak atomic flux or extremely low vapor density. It can be also effectively used for fast production of ultracold atoms.

Physical Review AMay 22, 200393 citations

Atoms Trapped by the Light

Anonymous

FocusMay 1, 19990 citations

^{171}\mathrm{Yb}

atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice generated by a narrow cavity mode at a distance of 0.14 mm from a mirror surface. The simplest approach of loading atoms from a mirror magneto-optical trap overlapped with the cavity mode allows the adjustment of the loading position by tuning a uniform bias magnetic field. The number of atoms trapped in the optical lattice exhibits two local maxima for different lattice depths, with a global maximum in the deeper lattice. These results open a way to quantum mechanical manipulation of atoms based on strong interaction with a tightly focused light field.