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

Computational Methods in Science and Technology

Magneto-optical Trap: Fundamentals and Realization

K. Kowalski, Van Cao Long, Khoa Dinh Xuan, Małgorzata Głódź, B. Nguyen Huy, Jerzy Szonert

Published Jan 1, 2010• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Principles of laser cooling and trapping of atoms with regard to the magneto-optical trap (MOT) are described.Some details of the MOT and the accompanying measuring system, both constructed at the Institute of Physics, PAS in Warsaw, are given.Two examples of experimental results are shown.
DOI
10.12921/cmst.2010.si.02.115-129

Related papers

Magneto-Optical Trap for Cesium Atoms Without a Separate Repumping Laser

Junxian Fu, Xuzong Chen, Yi-min Li +2 more

A magneto-optical trap (MOT) for cesium atoms that operates without a separate repumping laser is reported. The differences between a normal MOT and this kind of MOT have been experimentally studied. The influences of a repumping laser on cooling and trapping cesium atoms in the MOT have been carefully investigated. The results reveal that it is the critical injection-locked state of the diode laser that makes magneto-optical trapping of cesium atoms possible without a separate repumping laser.

Chinese Physics Letters•Nov 1, 1999•2 citations

Magneto-optical trap of titanium atoms

Scott Eustice, Jackson Schrott, Anke Stöltzel +4 more

We realize a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of titanium (Ti) atoms, performing laser cooling on the 498 nm transition between the long-lived 3 d 3 ( F 4 ) 4 s a 5 F 5 metastable state and the 3 d 3 ( F 4 ) 4 p y 5 G 6 o excited state. Without the addition of any repumping light, we observe MOTs of the three stable, I = 0 bosonic isotopes, Ti 46 , Ti 48 , and Ti 50 . Up to 8.30 ( 26 ) × 10 5 Ti 48 atoms are trapped at a maximum density of 1.3 ( 4 ) × 10 11 cm − 3 and at a temperature of 90 ( 15 ) µ K . By measuring the decay of the MOT, we constrain the leakage branching ratio of the cooling transition ( ≤ 2.5 × 10 − 6 ) and the two-body loss coefficient ( ≤ 2 × 10 − 10 cm 3 s − 1 ). Our approach to laser cooling Ti can be applied to other transition metals, enabling a significant expansion of the elements that can be laser cooled.

arXiv:2501.05544•Physical Review Research•Apr 8, 2025•5 citations

Magneto-Optical Trap for Preparation and Study of Rydberg Matter

Boris B. Zelener, Sergey A. Saakyan, Vladimir A. Sautenkov +4 more

Abstract Our goal is the preparation and study of ultracold plasma and Rydberg matter. We assembled an experimental setup for laser cooling of lithium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Trapping of

Coherent Phenomena•Jan 24, 2015•2 citations

Design and construction of a pyramidal Magneto-Optical Trap for laser cooling of rubidium atoms

Stefan Mangnusson

In this Master's thesis a pyramidal Magneto-Optical trap (MOT) for rubidium has been designed and constructed.This will be used in the Atomic physics cources for undergraduate students at Lund Technical University.The theory for Laser Cooling and Trapping is covered.A detailed instruction of how to design and build a low-cost MOT is presented.All necessary components are now in the picosecond laboratory of Lund High Power Laser Facility.This report is a continuation of another Master's thesis, Lund Reports on Atomic Physics (LRAP) 325. 1 8. Chu, C. Cohen-Tannoudji and W.D. Phillips [22].

Lund reports on atomic physics•Jan 1, 2005•1 citation

Construction of a Blue Neutral Cesium-133 Magneto-Optical Trap

Madison Whitmore

The magneto-optical trap (MOT) serves as the culmination of optical cooling and trapping, where by applying a linear magnetic field to orthogonal, circularly polarized, retroreflecting laser beams, one can produce a dense cloud of very cold atoms, on the order of μK. This work set out to create a magneto-optical trap using only visible light with the 6s 2S1/2 → 7p 2P◦ 3/2 transition of cesium-133, which is far weaker than the transition typically employed for a cesium-133 MOT. This transition alone has yet to be used in isolation to create a MOT, and the purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of such a MOT. While the creation of a MOT with the setup produced has thus far been unsuccessful, the components are in place for one to be made as a demonstration of optical cooling and trapping that should be visible to the naked eye. Additionally, an experimental setup was created for high precision measurements of the absolute energies of the 7p 2P◦ 1/2 and 7p 2P◦ 3/2 states. The theory behind the MOT and high precision spectroscopy is expounded upon within.

•May 1, 2025•0 citations

Constructing a Magneto-Optical Trap for Cold Atom Trapping

Eric S. Muckley

A magneto-optical trap, or MOT, is a device that traps atoms between three pairs of opposing perpendicular laser beams for cooling the atoms to temperatures near absolute zero. The MOT uses Doppler cooling and a magnetic quadrupole field to trap the atoms; in our case, Rb87 atoms. In the future, the MOT will be used in experiments pertaining to the advancement of quantum computing. In this paper, I explain some of the processes required for construction and operation of the MOT.

•Jan 1, 2009•2 citations
We realize a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of titanium (Ti) atoms, performing laser cooling on the 498 nm transition between the long-lived 3 d 3 ( F 4 ) 4 s a 5 F 5 metastable state and the 3 d 3 ( F 4 ) 4 p y 5 G 6 o excited state. Without the addition of any repumping light, we observe MOTs of the three stable, I = 0 bosonic isotopes, Ti 46 , Ti 48 , and Ti 50 . Up to 8.30 ( 26 ) × 10 5 Ti 48 atoms are trapped at a maximum density of 1.3 ( 4 ) × 10 11 cm − 3 and at a temperature of 90 ( 15 ) µ K . By measuring the decay of the MOT, we constrain the leakage branching ratio of the cooling transition ( ≤ 2.5 × 10 − 6 ) and the two-body loss coefficient ( ≤ 2 × 10 − 10 cm 3 s − 1 ). Our approach to laser cooling Ti can be applied to other transition metals, enabling a significant expansion of the elements that can be laser cooled.
In this Master's thesis a pyramidal Magneto-Optical trap (MOT) for rubidium has been designed and constructed.This will be used in the Atomic physics cources for undergraduate students at Lund Technical University.The theory for Laser Cooling and Trapping is covered.A detailed instruction of how to design and build a low-cost MOT is presented.All necessary components are now in the picosecond laboratory of Lund High Power Laser Facility.This report is a continuation of another Master's thesis, Lund Reports on Atomic Physics (LRAP) 325. 1 8. Chu, C. Cohen-Tannoudji and W.D. Phillips [22].
The magneto-optical trap (MOT) serves as the culmination of optical cooling and trapping, where by applying a linear magnetic field to orthogonal, circularly polarized, retroreflecting laser beams, one can produce a dense cloud of very cold atoms, on the order of μK. This work set out to create a magneto-optical trap using only visible light with the 6s 2S1/2 → 7p 2P◦ 3/2 transition of cesium-133, which is far weaker than the transition typically employed for a cesium-133 MOT. This transition alone has yet to be used in isolation to create a MOT, and the purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of such a MOT. While the creation of a MOT with the setup produced has thus far been unsuccessful, the components are in place for one to be made as a demonstration of optical cooling and trapping that should be visible to the naked eye. Additionally, an experimental setup was created for high precision measurements of the absolute energies of the 7p 2P◦ 1/2 and 7p 2P◦ 3/2 states. The theory behind the MOT and high precision spectroscopy is expounded upon within.