We describe the results of three sets of experiments to investigate producing cold slow collimated potassium atoms for applications with no access available for the introduction of counterpropagating laser light along the exiting atomic beam's axis. Velocity profiles are obtained via fluorescence from D1 excitation at perpendicular and nearly parallel incidence by a probe laser. Spatial profiles of both the cold- and residual hot-beam components are measured with a position-scanned hot-wire detector. Velocity-component holes and decelerated cold components are observed, along with direct evidence of perpendicular heating of the cold components. A first set of experiments uses a variant of conventional chirp cooling and/or hole burning. Light is introduced by a heated inclined mirror, while atoms exit through a slit in the mirror. Loss of intensity at low velocity is observed and discussed. A second set of experiments investigates velocity-selective optical-pumping crossover resonances that occur near the mirror, where the incident and reflected beams overlap for several alternative geometries. A third set of experiments investigates cold-beam production using laser-induced velocity selection and deflection. It provides a higher cold-atom intensity, along with the means to perform high-resolution spectroscopy.We describe the results of three sets of experiments to investigate producing cold slow collimated potassium atoms for applications with no access available for the introduction of counterpropagating laser light along the exiting atomic beam's axis. Velocity profiles are obtained via fluorescence from D1 excitation at perpendicular and nearly parallel incidence by a probe laser. Spatial profiles of both the cold- and residual hot-beam components are measured with a position-scanned hot-wire detector. Velocity-component holes and decelerated cold components are observed, along with direct evidence of perpendicular heating of the cold components. A first set of experiments uses a variant of conventional chirp cooling and/or hole burning. Light is introduced by a heated inclined mirror, while atoms exit through a slit in the mirror. Loss of intensity at low velocity is observed and discussed. A second set of experiments investigates velocity-selective optical-pumping crossover resonances that occur near the mirror, where the incident and reflected beams overlap for several alternative geometries. A third set of experiments investigates cold-beam production using laser-induced velocity selection and deflection. It provides a higher cold-atom intensity, along with the means to perform high-resolution spectroscopy.

Physical Review AApr 1, 19946 citations

Manipulation of Cold Atoms in Hollow Laser Beams

Advances in atomic, molecular, and optical physicsJan 1, 200212 citations

Laser spectroscopy of atoms with a sub-wavelength confinement

Philippe Ballin, Isabelle Maurin, Athanasios Laliotis +4 more

Nov 7, 20110 citations

Beam-loss spectroscopy of cold collisions in a bright sodium beam

Jaime Ramirez-Serrano, W. DeGraffenreid, J. Weiner +2 more

We report beam-loss photoassociation (PA) spectra of cold collisions within a slow, bright Na atom beam near the ${D}_{1}$ resonance line. The high collimation and brilliance of the atomic beam permits the detection of atomic fluorescence loss resulting from the photoassociation of cold sodium atoms. The results show that even at high PA laser intensities, where strong coupling of the colliding atoms to the optical field might obscure spectral features, vibrational and rotational progressions are surprisingly well resolved. We attribute the conservation of narrow spectral features to the properties of the saturated line shapes and to the unconventional collision energy distribution in one-dimensional (1D) single-beam collisions compared to 3D collisions in a gas cell.We report beam-loss photoassociation (PA) spectra of cold collisions within a slow, bright Na atom beam near the ${D}_{1}$ resonance line. The high collimation and brilliance of the atomic beam permits the detection of atomic fluorescence loss resulting from the photoassociation of cold sodium atoms. The results show that even at high PA laser intensities, where strong coupling of the colliding atoms to the optical field might obscure spectral features, vibrational and rotational progressions are surprisingly well resolved. We attribute the conservation of narrow spectral features to the properties of the saturated line shapes and to the unconventional collision energy distribution in one-dimensional (1D) single-beam collisions compared to 3D collisions in a gas cell.

Physical Review AApr 9, 20047 citations

We report beam-loss photoassociation (PA) spectra of cold collisions within a slow, bright Na atom beam near the

{D}_{1}

resonance line. The high collimation and brilliance of the atomic beam permits the detection of atomic fluorescence loss resulting from the photoassociation of cold sodium atoms. The results show that even at high PA laser intensities, where strong coupling of the colliding atoms to the optical field might obscure spectral features, vibrational and rotational progressions are surprisingly well resolved. We attribute the conservation of narrow spectral features to the properties of the saturated line shapes and to the unconventional collision energy distribution in one-dimensional (1D) single-beam collisions compared to 3D collisions in a gas cell.