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Reports on Progress in Physics

Electromagnetic trapping of cold atoms

V. I. Balykin, Vladimir G. Minogin, Vladilen S Letokhov

Published Aug 10, 2000• 183 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This review describes the methods of trapping cold atoms in electromagnetic fields and in the combined electromagnetic and gravity fields. We discuss first the basic types of the dipole radiation forces used for cooling and trapping atoms in the laser fields. We outline next the fundamentals of the laser cooling of atoms and classify the temperature limits for basic laser cooling processes. The main body of the review is devoted to discussion of atom traps based on the dipole radiation forces, dipole magnetic forces, combined dipole radiation-magnetic forces, and the forces combined of the dipole radiation-magnetic and gravity forces. Physical fundamentals of atom traps operating as waveguides and cavities for cold atoms are also considered. The review ends with the applications of cold and trapped atoms in atomic, molecular and optical physics.

DOI
10.1088/0034-4885/63/9/202

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This review describes the methods of trapping cold atoms in electromagnetic fields and in the combined electromagnetic and gravity fields. We discuss first the basic types of the dipole radiation forces used for cooling and trapping atoms in the laser fields. We outline next the fundamentals of the laser cooling of atoms and classify the temperature limits for basic laser cooling processes. The main body of the review is devoted to discussion of atom traps based on the dipole radiation forces, dipole magnetic forces, combined dipole radiation-magnetic forces, and the forces combined of the dipole radiation-magnetic and gravity forces. Physical fundamentals of atom traps operating as waveguides and cavities for cold atoms are also considered. The review ends with the applications of cold and trapped atoms in atomic, molecular and optical physics.
Abstract That the laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms are interrelated has already been said in the introduction to Chapter 5. We shall, therefore, now consider various techniques whereby cold atoms can be trapped. All the known techniques for trapping laser-cooled neutral atoms can be classified according to a few basic methods. These basic methods are optical trapping using the forces of the electric dipole interaction between atoms and laser fields, magnetic trapping based on the use of the forces of the magnetic dipole interaction, mixed magneto-optical trapping using simultaneous interaction between atoms and magnetic and laser fields, and mixed gravitooptical and gravito-magnetic trapping. Traps for neutral atoms can have a wide variety of geometries and dimensions: (a) macroscopic traps with a size of a »λ, (b) microscopic traps with a size of a ≃λ/2, (c) various combinations of macroscopic and microscopic traps (one-, two-, and three-dimensional) in the case of optical lattices, and finally (d) nanoscopic traps with a size of a «λ/2.
We present a simple review of the basic physical processes allowing one to control, with laser beams, the velocity and the position of neutral atoms. The control of the velocity corresponds to a cooling of atoms, that is, a reduction of the atomic velocity spread around a given value. The control of the position means a trapping of atoms in real space. The best present performances will be given, in terms of the lowest temperatures and the highest densities. The corresponding highest quantum degeneracy will also be estimated. It is imposed by fundamental limits, which will be described briefly. We also give the general trends in this field of research and outline the new directions which look promising for observing quantum statistical effects in laser cooled atomic samples, but which are for the moment restricted by unsolved problems. Introducing the Simple Schemes The radiative forces acting on atoms in a light field can be split into two parts, a reactive one and a dissipative one. The dissipative force (radiation pressure), which basically involves scattering processes, is velocity dependent. We will see that this dependence leads to the Doppler cooling scheme and to the concept of optical molasses, and we will give the corresponding minimal achievable temperature. The dissipative force can be made position dependent, through a gradient of the magnetic field, so that the atoms are also trapped in the so-called magneto-optical trap.
Techniques to slowand t rap neutral atoms at high d ensities with r adiative forces are discussed in this review article. It isshown that the radiative force on an atomic system has two components, one coming from the rnomentum transferred from the photon to the atom and the other resul ting f rom the interaction of the transi t ion d i po 1 e mo- ment with the radiation field gradient. Among several methods of laser cooling, we emphasize Zeeman tuning of the electronic l evels and fre- quency-sweeping techniques. Trapping of neutral atoms is ano ther i n- teresting subject discussed in this review. We present recent resul ts obtained in light and magnetic traps. Finally, techniques to f urther c001 atoms inside traps a re presented and the future of laser cool i ng of neutral atoms by means of radiation pressure is discussed.
The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce the listener to the rapidly developing field of laser cooling and trapping. Doppler cooling is first discussed followed by the new mechanism of cooling based on ground-state energy level shifts in light fields with polarization gradients. Next, the basic concepts of magnetic traps, optical dipole force traps (optical tweezers), and the magnetooptic trap are considered. Selected uses of these traps and cooling techniques are given to elucidate the broad utility of these techniques.