Laser Cooling: Putting Atoms on Ice

Hidekazu Hachisu

Fabien Lienhart, Salah Boussen, Olivier Carraz +3 more

In conclusion, we have developed a new laser system to laser cool rubidium atoms based on frequency doubling of a 1560 nm fiber bench. The use of telecom components gives us a reliable and compact system robust compare to environmental perturbations. Our laser system should find applications for onboard cold atoms experiments like inertial captors or atomic clocks. For example, our laser could be used in matter wave interferometers in space like the project ICE supported by CNES. We should also point out that our laser system can also address potassium atoms which have a laser cooling wavelength of 767 nm.

Stig Stenholm

We consider the mechanical forces exerted on atoms by light as a tool to make the atom more concrete as a particle. It can be pushed, trapped and observed in its own scattered light. Recent theoretical and experimental progress in the field of cooling and trapping of atoms demonstrates their palpable reality. The theory of the mechanical manifestations of light is reviewed, and its application to laser cooling is discussed. Traps for atoms are considered. The feasibility of pure light traps is discussed, and the use of other types of traps in laser applications is reviewed. We present briefly the main experiments proving the possibility of laser cooling and trapping. A brief discussion of applications and future experimental possibilities is given.

Steven Chu, Mara Goff Prentiss, A. Cable +1 more

Steven Chu, Carl Wieman

Martin Kristensen, Jørgen S. Nielsen, Shi Peixiong +2 more

The storage ring ASTRID is built for studies in atomic physics, collision physics and laser physics. Beams have been laser cooled to temperature below 1 mK and beam dynamics studied by laser spectroscopy. The role of transverse excitations has been investigated and parameters determining onset of condensation studied. Rf‐laser double resonance spectroscopy has been performed and strict limits put on the requirements for coherent Ramsey‐spectroscopy.