We propose a simple atomic-beam collimator consisting of a blue-detuned cylindrical-hollow (doughnut) laser beam. Cold atoms from a magneto-optical trap are loaded into the doughnut beam and guided in the propagation direction of the doughnut beam. The cold atoms experience efficient Sisyphus cooling induced by the doughnut beam and a weak repumping beam and are collimated in the transverse direction. In the longitudinal direction the cold atoms experience small accelerations that are due to the absorption-induced heating of the doughnut beam and the repumping beam. The cooling, heating, and loss mechanisms in this atomic collimator are analyzed. Our study shows that an intense cold atomic beam with a minimum transverse velocity of ∼2 cm s-1 (a minimum transverse temperature of ∼1.4 μK) and a brightness of approximately 2×1013 atoms (sr-1 cm-2 s-1) can be obtained from the collimator.We propose a simple atomic-beam collimator consisting of a blue-detuned cylindrical-hollow (doughnut) laser beam. Cold atoms from a magneto-optical trap are loaded into the doughnut beam and guided in the propagation direction of the doughnut beam. The cold atoms experience efficient Sisyphus cooling induced by the doughnut beam and a weak repumping beam and are collimated in the transverse direction. In the longitudinal direction the cold atoms experience small accelerations that are due to the absorption-induced heating of the doughnut beam and the repumping beam. The cooling, heating, and loss mechanisms in this atomic collimator are analyzed. Our study shows that an intense cold atomic beam with a minimum transverse velocity of ∼2 cm s-1 (a minimum transverse temperature of ∼1.4 μK) and a brightness of approximately 2×1013 atoms (sr-1 cm-2 s-1) can be obtained from the collimator.

Journal of the Optical Society of America BAug 1, 199811 citations

Cold Atoms in three-dimensional Confinement formed by Gravity and Atomic Mirrors

Alice Quan, Daniel B. Erenso, Reeta Vyas

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyNov 10, 20050 citations

Polarization-gradient cooling in a strong doughnut-mode dipole potential

S. J. M. Kuppens, M. Rauner, M. Schiffer +4 more

We present experimental and theoretical studies of polarization-gradient cooling of metastable neon atoms confined to the dark center of a ${\mathrm{TEM}}_{01}^{*}$ (doughnut) mode. A slow beam of neon atoms is guided and focused inside a blue-detuned and focused doughnut-mode laser beam to a spot size below 10 \ensuremath{\mu}m. The transverse motion inside this doughnut mode is cooled by means of two-dimensional optical molasses. We observed non-Gaussian two-component velocity distributions of which the cold component has a width of down to three recoil velocities. These results are found to be in qualitative agreement with a quantum Monte Carlo simulation of cooling in one dimension in the presence of an external light-shift potential. For the simulation we apply the recently developed technique of quantum-state diffusion with adaptive noise.We present experimental and theoretical studies of polarization-gradient cooling of metastable neon atoms confined to the dark center of a ${\mathrm{TEM}}_{01}^{*}$ (doughnut) mode. A slow beam of neon atoms is guided and focused inside a blue-detuned and focused doughnut-mode laser beam to a spot size below 10 \ensuremath{\mu}m. The transverse motion inside this doughnut mode is cooled by means of two-dimensional optical molasses. We observed non-Gaussian two-component velocity distributions of which the cold component has a width of down to three recoil velocities. These results are found to be in qualitative agreement with a quantum Monte Carlo simulation of cooling in one dimension in the presence of an external light-shift potential. For the simulation we apply the recently developed technique of quantum-state diffusion with adaptive noise.

Physical Review AOct 1, 199854 citations

Trapping of atoms with a concentric cavity

Yun-Jhih Chen, Georg A. Raithel

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 5, 20140 citations

We present experimental and theoretical studies of polarization-gradient cooling of metastable neon atoms confined to the dark center of a

{\mathrm{TEM}}_{01}^{*}

(doughnut) mode. A slow beam of neon atoms is guided and focused inside a blue-detuned and focused doughnut-mode laser beam to a spot size below 10 \ensuremath{\mu}m. The transverse motion inside this doughnut mode is cooled by means of two-dimensional optical molasses. We observed non-Gaussian two-component velocity distributions of which the cold component has a width of down to three recoil velocities. These results are found to be in qualitative agreement with a quantum Monte Carlo simulation of cooling in one dimension in the presence of an external light-shift potential. For the simulation we apply the recently developed technique of quantum-state diffusion with adaptive noise.