We have observed the bichromatic force on metastable He using fiber amplifiers to produce the high power of light needed at $\ensuremath{\lambda}=1.083 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}.$ We have done deflection experiments to confirm that the very large magnitude of the force scales to He, and preliminary deceleration experiments for eventual trap loading. Our measurements support earlier experiments in Rb. Helium is ideally suited for this kind of beam slowing because its slowing length with the usual radiative force is more than a factor of 100 larger than with the bichromatic force. Thus, loading a MOT will be much more effective because of the much larger angular capture range associated with the shorter distance.We have observed the bichromatic force on metastable He using fiber amplifiers to produce the high power of light needed at $\ensuremath{\lambda}=1.083 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}.$ We have done deflection experiments to confirm that the very large magnitude of the force scales to He, and preliminary deceleration experiments for eventual trap loading. Our measurements support earlier experiments in Rb. Helium is ideally suited for this kind of beam slowing because its slowing length with the usual radiative force is more than a factor of 100 larger than with the bichromatic force. Thus, loading a MOT will be much more effective because of the much larger angular capture range associated with the shorter distance.

Physical Review AJan 17, 200136 citations

Bichromatic Slowing and Collimation to Make an Intense Helium Beam

Matthew J. Partlow, X. Miao, Joerg Bochmann +2 more

The bichromatic force has been used to both slow and collimate a beam of metastable ${2}^{3}S$ He atoms (He*). The collimation capture range is an extraordinary $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}85\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$ corresponding to $\ensuremath{\sim}0.18$ radians from our source. Both slowing and collimation were accomplished in the unprecedented short distance of $\ensuremath{\sim}5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}$ each. The overall brightness increase is $\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3200$, and there is potential for considerably more.The bichromatic force has been used to both slow and collimate a beam of metastable ${2}^{3}S$ He atoms (He*). The collimation capture range is an extraordinary $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}85\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$ corresponding to $\ensuremath{\sim}0.18$ radians from our source. Both slowing and collimation were accomplished in the unprecedented short distance of $\ensuremath{\sim}5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}$ each. The overall brightness increase is $\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3200$, and there is potential for considerably more.

Physical Review LettersNov 16, 200447 citations

The bichromatic force has been used to both slow and collimate a beam of metastable

{2}^{3}S

He atoms (He*). The collimation capture range is an extraordinary $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}85\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$ corresponding to $\ensuremath{\sim}0.18$ radians from our source. Both slowing and collimation were accomplished in the unprecedented short distance of $\ensuremath{\sim}5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}$ each. The overall brightness increase is $\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3200$, and there is potential for considerably more.