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

Physical Review A

Cooling by Maxwell’s demon: Preparation of single-velocity atoms for matter-wave interferometry

T. Binnewies, Uwe Sterr, J. Helmcke, F. Riehle

Published Jun 14, 2000• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present an alternative method for laser cooling of atoms close to the one-dimensional recoil limit. This method is particularly suited for atoms not accessible to conventional sub-Doppler cooling methods. It is based on the repeated selection and accumulation of slow atoms from a precooled atomic cloud and on the repeated rethermalization of the remaining atoms. The prepared ensemble is used to measure atom interferences with increased visibility.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.62.011601

Related papers

Preparation of single velocity atoms for matter wave interferometry

T. Binnewies, Uwe Sterr, J. Helmcke +1 more

Summary form only given. Atoms without ground state splitting, e.g. alkaline earths, are of special interest for atom interferometry and frequency standards due to their small sensitivity to external fields and for BEC and the study of cold collisions due to the simplified theoretical interpretation of their interaction. We demonstrate Maxwell's-demon cooling, a novel method which allows to further cool alkaline earth atoms in one dimension. It consists of three consecutive steps which are repeated several times. First, from a cloud of cooled atoms released from a standard magneto-optical trap a small part of the velocity distribution is selected by excitation on a narrow transition (intercombination transition). Second, these atoms are optically pumped to another long lived state. Third, the ground state velocity distribution is restored by turning on the optical molasses on the strong transition used for the magneto-optical trapping. In addition to Maxwell's thought experiment, where a demon separates the cold atoms from the hot ones, in the novel scheme the hot atoms are furthermore cooled again to the original 3 mK. By repeating these steps slow atoms are accumulated in the excited state. The velocity distribution of the atoms is measured after the cold atoms are decayed to the ground state by recording the Doppler broadening of the intercombination transition.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Aug 29, 2005•0 citations

Sub-Doppler atomic velocities for an optical frequency standard by Maxwell's demon cooling

T. Binnewies, Uwe Sterr, J. Helmcke +1 more

We report on a novel cooling scheme that allows sub-Doppler cooling of atoms previously subject to the Doppler limit. The method was applied to enhance the fringe contrast in an optical Ca frequency standard.

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements•Nov 7, 2002•0 citations

Interferometric Laser Cooling of Atomic Rubidium

Alexander J. Dunning, Rachel Gregory, James Bateman +2 more

We report the 1D cooling of ^{85}Rb atoms using a velocity-dependent optical force based upon Ramsey matter-wave interferometry. Using stimulated Raman transitions between ground hyperfine states, 12 cycles of the interferometer sequence cool a freely moving atom cloud from 21 to 3 μK. This pulsed analog of continuous-wave Doppler cooling is effective at temperatures down to the recoil limit; with augmentation pulses to increase the interferometer area, it should cool more quickly than conventional methods and be more suitable for species that lack a closed radiative transition.

arXiv:1408.6877•Physical Review Letters•Aug 14, 2015•13 citations

Atom Interferometry in a Warm Vapor

Grant W. Biedermann, Hayden McGuinness, Akash Rakholia +4 more

We demonstrate matter-wave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms. Established approaches to light-pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse. In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling. This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance. This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.

arXiv:1610.02451•Physical Review Letters•Apr 17, 2017•46 citations

Atom Interferometers Warm Up

Carlos L. Garrido Alzar

We demonstrate matter-wave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms.Established approaches to light-pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse.In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling.This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance.This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.

Physics•Apr 17, 2017•1 citation

Doppler Cooling and Trapping on Forbidden Transitions

T. Binnewies, G. Wilpers, Uwe Sterr +5 more

Ultracold atoms at temperatures close to the recoil limit have been achieved by extending Doppler cooling to forbidden transitions. A cloud of (40)Ca atoms has been cooled and trapped to a temperature as low as 6 microK by operating a magnetooptical trap on the spin-forbidden intercombination transition. Quenching the long-lived excited state with an additional laser enhanced the scattering rate by a factor of 15, while a high selectivity in velocity was preserved. With this method, more than 10% of precooled atoms from a standard magnetooptical trap have been transferred to the ultracold trap. Monte Carlo simulations of the cooling process are in good agreement with the experiments.

arXiv:physics/0105069•Physical Review Letters•Aug 30, 2001•172 citations
We present an alternative method for laser cooling of atoms close to the one-dimensional recoil limit. This method is particularly suited for atoms not accessible to conventional sub-Doppler cooling methods. It is based on the repeated selection and accumulation of slow atoms from a precooled atomic cloud and on the repeated rethermalization of the remaining atoms. The prepared ensemble is used to measure atom interferences with increased visibility.
Summary form only given. Atoms without ground state splitting, e.g. alkaline earths, are of special interest for atom interferometry and frequency standards due to their small sensitivity to external fields and for BEC and the study of cold collisions due to the simplified theoretical interpretation of their interaction. We demonstrate Maxwell's-demon cooling, a novel method which allows to further cool alkaline earth atoms in one dimension. It consists of three consecutive steps which are repeated several times. First, from a cloud of cooled atoms released from a standard magneto-optical trap a small part of the velocity distribution is selected by excitation on a narrow transition (intercombination transition). Second, these atoms are optically pumped to another long lived state. Third, the ground state velocity distribution is restored by turning on the optical molasses on the strong transition used for the magneto-optical trapping. In addition to Maxwell's thought experiment, where a demon separates the cold atoms from the hot ones, in the novel scheme the hot atoms are furthermore cooled again to the original 3 mK. By repeating these steps slow atoms are accumulated in the excited state. The velocity distribution of the atoms is measured after the cold atoms are decayed to the ground state by recording the Doppler broadening of the intercombination transition.
We report the 1D cooling of ^{85}Rb atoms using a velocity-dependent optical force based upon Ramsey matter-wave interferometry. Using stimulated Raman transitions between ground hyperfine states, 12 cycles of the interferometer sequence cool a freely moving atom cloud from 21 to 3 μK. This pulsed analog of continuous-wave Doppler cooling is effective at temperatures down to the recoil limit; with augmentation pulses to increase the interferometer area, it should cool more quickly than conventional methods and be more suitable for species that lack a closed radiative transition.
We demonstrate matter-wave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms. Established approaches to light-pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse. In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling. This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance. This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.
We demonstrate matter-wave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms.Established approaches to light-pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse.In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling.This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance.This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.
Ultracold atoms at temperatures close to the recoil limit have been achieved by extending Doppler cooling to forbidden transitions. A cloud of (40)Ca atoms has been cooled and trapped to a temperature as low as 6 microK by operating a magnetooptical trap on the spin-forbidden intercombination transition. Quenching the long-lived excited state with an additional laser enhanced the scattering rate by a factor of 15, while a high selectivity in velocity was preserved. With this method, more than 10% of precooled atoms from a standard magnetooptical trap have been transferred to the ultracold trap. Monte Carlo simulations of the cooling process are in good agreement with the experiments.