Part IV: Cooling and Trapping

We present a scheme for laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping of the Group IV (a.k.a. Group 14 or tetrel) atoms silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb). These elements each possess a strong Type-II transition ( $J \rightarrow J' = J-1$ ) between the metastable $s^2p^2 \,^3P_1$ state and the excited $s^2ps'\, ^3P_0^o$ state at an accessible laser wavelength, making them amenable to laser cooling and trapping. We focus on the application of this scheme to Sn, which has several features that make it attractive for precision measurement applications. We perform numerical simulations of atomic beam slowing, capture into a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and subsequent sub-Doppler cooling and compression in a blue-detuned MOT of Sn atoms. We also discuss a realistic experimental setup for realizing a high phase-space density sample of Sn atoms.We present a scheme for laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping of the Group IV (a.k.a. Group 14 or tetrel) atoms silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb). These elements each possess a strong Type-II transition ($J \rightarrow J' = J-1$) between the metastable $s^2p^2 \,^3P_1$ state and the excited $s^2ps'\, ^3P_0^o$ state at an accessible laser wavelength, making them amenable to laser cooling and trapping. We focus on the application of this scheme to Sn, which has several features that make it attractive for precision measurement applications. We perform numerical simulations of atomic beam slowing, capture into a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and subsequent sub-Doppler cooling and compression in a blue-detuned MOT of Sn atoms. We also discuss a realistic experimental setup for realizing a high phase-space density sample of Sn atoms.

arXiv:2509.04635Physical Review AFeb 20, 20261 citation

Overview of Part IV

Lukas Burgholzer, Robert Wille

Springer eBooksJan 1, 20260 citations

Direct observation of the sub-Doppler trap in a parametrically driven magneto-optical trap

Kihwan Kim, Heung‐Ryoul Noh, Hyun-Ji Ha +1 more

The double structure potential predicted in the atomic cloud of a magneto-optical trap by one- (Doppler part) and two-photon process (sub-Doppler part) is experimentally observed and studied through the parametric excitation with the modulation of cooling laser intensities. Modulating the intensity of the cooling laser at around twice its resonant frequency of Doppler part, the atoms in Doppler part are divided and they oscillate reciprocally with finite amplitude due to the nonlinearity of the trap, and the others in sub-Doppler part are not influenced. By the modulation, we can investigate the sub-Doppler part spatially without Doppler part and also measure the temperature of sub-Doppler part independently.The double structure potential predicted in the atomic cloud of a magneto-optical trap by one- (Doppler part) and two-photon process (sub-Doppler part) is experimentally observed and studied through the parametric excitation with the modulation of cooling laser intensities. Modulating the intensity of the cooling laser at around twice its resonant frequency of Doppler part, the atoms in Doppler part are divided and they oscillate reciprocally with finite amplitude due to the nonlinearity of the trap, and the others in sub-Doppler part are not influenced. By the modulation, we can investigate the sub-Doppler part spatially without Doppler part and also measure the temperature of sub-Doppler part independently.

Physical Review AMar 17, 200422 citations

Cooling and Trapping

Juha Javanainen

Springer handbooksJan 1, 20061 citation

Chapter 6 Trapping and Cooling Ions

Laurent Hilico, Martina Knoop

EDP Sciences eBooksDec 31, 20220 citations

J \rightarrow J' = J-1

) between the metastable

s^2p^2 \,^3P_1

state and the excited

s^2ps'\, ^3P_0^o

state at an accessible laser wavelength, making them amenable to laser cooling and trapping. We focus on the application of this scheme to Sn, which has several features that make it attractive for precision measurement applications. We perform numerical simulations of atomic beam slowing, capture into a magneto-optical trap (MOT), and subsequent sub-Doppler cooling and compression in a blue-detuned MOT of Sn atoms. We also discuss a realistic experimental setup for realizing a high phase-space density sample of Sn atoms.