UV laser source for atom optics experiments with metastable helium

Jeroen C. J. Koelemeij

Mateusz Kotyrba

Lǔ, Milić, Knops +3 more

Franck Pereira dos Santos, Perales, F., Jérémie Léonard +6 more

This article presents a new experiment aiming at BEC of metastable helium atoms. It describes the design of a high flux discharge source of atoms and a robust laser system using a DBR diode coupled with a high power Yb doped fiber amplifier for manipulating the beam of metastable atoms. The atoms are trapped in a small quartz cell in an extreme high vacuum. The trapping design uses an additional laser (repumper) and allows the capture of a large number of metastable helium atoms (approximately 109) in a geometry favorable for loading a tight magnetostatic trap.

Franck Pereira dos Santos, F. Perales, Jérémie Léonard +6 more

This article presents a new experiment aiming at BEC of metastable helium atoms. It describes the design of a high flux discharge source of atoms and a robust laser system using a DBR diode coupled with a high power Yb doped fiber amplifier for manipulating the beam of metastable atoms. The atoms are trapped in a small quartz cell in an extreme high vacuum. The trapping design uses an additional laser (repumper) and allows the capture of a large number of metastable helium atoms (approximately 10 9 ) in a geometry favorable for loading a tight magnetostatic trap.

Ton G. van Leeuwen, A. E. A. Koolen, M.J. de Koning +2 more