Magnetic trapping of decelerated neutral atoms

Steven Hoekstra, Joop J. Gilijamse, Sebastiaan Y. T. van de Meerakker +1 more

Fujio Shimizu, Kazuko Shimizu, Hiroshi Takuma

An efficient spontaneous-force laser trap of neutral atoms without standing waves is demonstrated by using the Ne 1s(5) metastable state. The metastable Ne beam is decelerated by a laser by using Zeeman tuning and is trapped in a trap consisting of a quadrupole magnetic field and four laserbeams in a tetrahedral configuration. The dynamics of atomic motion from the deceleration stage to the trap is discussed.

Harold J. Metcalf, P. van der Straten

V. E. Shapiro

William D. Phillips, P. L. Gould, Paul D. Lett

Significant advances have been made in the ability to control the motion of neutral atoms. Cooling and trapping atoms present new possibilities for studies of ultracold atoms and atomic interactions. The techniques of laser cooling and deceleration of atomic beams, magnetic and laser trapping of neutral atoms, and a number of recent advances in the use of radiative forces to manipulate atoms are reviewed.

Harold J. Metcalf