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Physical Review A

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

Sergey Nikitich Atutov, R. Calabrese, V. Guidi, Botao Mai, A. G. Rudavets, E. Scansani, L. Tomassetti, V. Biancalana, A. Burchianti, C. Marinelli, E. Mariotti, L. Moi, Stefano Veronesi

Published May 22, 2003• 93 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.67.053401

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Low-intensity white light was used to increase the loading rate of 87Rb{}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atoms into a vapor-cell magneto-optic trap by inducing nonthermal desorption of Rb atoms from the stainless-steel walls of the vapor cell. An increased Rb partial pressure reached a new equilibrium value in fewer than 10 s after switching on the broadband light source. After the source was turned off, the partial pressure returned to its previous value in 1/e1/e1/e times as short as 10 s.
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