Slow Atom Beams, Traps, and Atom Optics

Wonho Jhe

S. Miranda, Sérgio Ricardo Muniz, Gustavo Deczka Telles +3 more

We have performed continuous slowing of an atomic beam to load a magneto-optical trap (MOT) on axis. To avoid the undesirable effects of the strong slowing laser on the performance of the MOT, a dark spot in the center of the slowing laser beam is used. We varied the spot size and the slowing-laser frequency and intensity to optimize the number of trapped atoms. Our ``dark-spot'' slowing increased the number of trapped atoms by a factor of 30, allowing us to trap $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{9}$ atoms in the MOT.

Sena Gildélia de Miranda, Sérgio Ricardo Muniz, Gustavo Deczka Telles +3 more

Summary form only given. Here, we present an alternative to conventional beam slowing and off-axis magneto optical trap (MOT) loading. A dark spot placed in the center of the slowing beam makes a shadow on the position of the trap, allowing a large flux of slow atoms to be captured into the trap, without being disturbed. We have characterized this process using different dark spot sizes and different slower laser frequencies and intensities.

J. Arlt, G. Birkl, Ernst Maria Rasel +1 more

S. L. Rolston, William D. Phillips

Y.-D. Chen, W.-X. Li, M.-E. Chou +3 more

We present the creation of a lithium-cesium slow beam using a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap. The two-species atomic beam is directed to load a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap in ultrahigh vacuum. We achieve a loading rate of $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ lithium atoms/s with the lithium oven temperature at $370{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$ and $2.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ cesium atoms/s with the Cs oven temperature at $20{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$. The maximum numbers of lithium and cesium atoms in the trap are $1.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9}$ and $1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$, respectively. Our results show that the simple and compact two-dimensional magneto-optical trap is suitable for producing an atomic beam of two species that have a large mass ratio and very different volatilities.