Annales de Physique

Magnetic traps for neutral atoms

H. Metcalf

Published Jan 1, 1985• 0 citations

Abstract

Magnetic trapping of neutral atoms is highly desirable for many applications. Because of the necessarily shallow depths of practical traps, atoms must be cooled to very low temperatures in order to be confined in them. Trapping and cooling are therefore inextricably coupled for practical, but not fundamental reasons. We have built and are presently testing a magnetic trap consisting of a pair of opposed coils. This trap can contain sodium atoms having energy equivalent to T = 0.017 K.

DOI: 10.1051/anphys:01985001006073300

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