The behavior of atoms in an optical far-off resonance trap is found to depend strongly on the trap polarization. Large loss rates occur unless the polarization is perfectly linear or perfectly circular, in which case exponential lifetimes up to 10 s are observed. Through optimization of trap loading, samples of $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms are obtained in a circularly polarized trap. Spin polarization of $98(1)%$ is measured. This trap should prove useful for precision measurements such as $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay asymmetry and should make rf cooling possible in optical traps.The behavior of atoms in an optical far-off resonance trap is found to depend strongly on the trap polarization. Large loss rates occur unless the polarization is perfectly linear or perfectly circular, in which case exponential lifetimes up to 10 s are observed. Through optimization of trap loading, samples of $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms are obtained in a circularly polarized trap. Spin polarization of $98(1)%$ is measured. This trap should prove useful for precision measurements such as $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay asymmetry and should make rf cooling possible in optical traps.

Physical Review LettersAug 16, 199999 citations

Spinor Condensates in Optical Dipole Traps

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksDec 1, 20060 citations

Polarization gradient cooling of single atoms in optical dipole traps

Yue-Sum Chin, Matthias Steiner, Christian Kurtsiefer

We experimentally investigate ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ polarization gradient cooling (PGC) of a single $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atom in a tightly focused dipole trap and show that the cooling limit strongly depends on the polarization of the trapping field. For optimized cooling light power, the temperature of the atom reaches $10.4(6)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ in a linearly polarized trap, approximately five times lower than in a circularly polarized trap. The inhibition of PGC is qualitatively explained by the fictitious magnetic fields induced by the trapping field. We further demonstrate that switching the trap polarization from linear to circular after PGC induces only minor heating.We experimentally investigate ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ polarization gradient cooling (PGC) of a single $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atom in a tightly focused dipole trap and show that the cooling limit strongly depends on the polarization of the trapping field. For optimized cooling light power, the temperature of the atom reaches $10.4(6)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ in a linearly polarized trap, approximately five times lower than in a circularly polarized trap. The inhibition of PGC is qualitatively explained by the fictitious magnetic fields induced by the trapping field. We further demonstrate that switching the trap polarization from linear to circular after PGC induces only minor heating.

arXiv:1707.05965Physical Review ASep 7, 201717 citations

Trapping of Single Atoms in an Off-Resonance Optical Dipole Trap

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksDec 1, 20060 citations

98(1)%

is measured. This trap should prove useful for precision measurements such as $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay asymmetry and should make rf cooling possible in optical traps.

We experimentally investigate ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ polarization gradient cooling (PGC) of a single

^{87}\mathrm{Rb}

atom in a tightly focused dipole trap and show that the cooling limit strongly depends on the polarization of the trapping field. For optimized cooling light power, the temperature of the atom reaches $10.4(6)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ in a linearly polarized trap, approximately five times lower than in a circularly polarized trap. The inhibition of PGC is qualitatively explained by the fictitious magnetic fields induced by the trapping field. We further demonstrate that switching the trap polarization from linear to circular after PGC induces only minor heating.