Two dimensional cooling of Rb atoms : trapping and numerical analysis

This dissertation reports sympathetic cooling of the molecular hydroxyl anion (OH– ) via collisions with ultra cold rubidium (Rb) atoms. The anion’s translational and rotational degrees of freedom were cooled simultaneously. A new generation hybrid atom-ion trap (HAITrap) has been set up, combining an octupole radio frequency (rf) trap for ion storage and a dark-spontaneous force optical trap (darkSPOT) for Rb atoms. While the octupole rf-trap provides a large rf-field-free region decreasing rf-induced collisional heating, the darkSPOT reinforces this effect by locating the atom cloud in the center of the ion trap. The darkSPOT also enables to generate large dark state fractions, suppressing associative detachment and thus ion losses. Evidence on translational sympathetic cooling in the HAITrap was provided using two methods of kinetic thermometry: photodetachment tomography (PD) and measurements of the time of flight (ToF) distribution. The ToF analysis has shown to be more conclusive and numerical simulations validated the experimental findings qualitatively. Based on a one dimensional ToF-temperature mapping, the narrowest measured energy spread would correspond to a temperature of 35 ± 5K. Deviations from thermal distributions were observed, as predicted from a theoretical model developed by our group. Rotational sympathetic cooling was observed via state selective photodetachment (SSPD). This was performed by pre-cooling the atoms with helium buffer gas at 295K and further cooling the ions with Rb at 300 μK. SSPD thermometry yielded a 70% decrease of the anions rotational temperature after interaction with Rb. These experimental findings could have direct applications in cold collision studies, quantum control of chemical reactions or sympathetic cooling of anti-protons.This dissertation reports sympathetic cooling of the molecular hydroxyl anion (OH– ) via collisions with ultra cold rubidium (Rb) atoms. The anion’s translational and rotational degrees of freedom were cooled simultaneously. A new generation hybrid atom-ion trap (HAITrap) has been set up, combining an octupole radio frequency (rf) trap for ion storage and a dark-spontaneous force optical trap (darkSPOT) for Rb atoms. While the octupole rf-trap provides a large rf-field-free region decreasing rf-induced collisional heating, the darkSPOT reinforces this effect by locating the atom cloud in the center of the ion trap. The darkSPOT also enables to generate large dark state fractions, suppressing associative detachment and thus ion losses. Evidence on translational sympathetic cooling in the HAITrap was provided using two methods of kinetic thermometry: photodetachment tomography (PD) and measurements of the time of flight (ToF) distribution. The ToF analysis has shown to be more conclusive and numerical simulations validated the experimental findings qualitatively. Based on a one dimensional ToF-temperature mapping, the narrowest measured energy spread would correspond to a temperature of 35 ± 5K. Deviations from thermal distributions were observed, as predicted from a theoretical model developed by our group. Rotational sympathetic cooling was observed via state selective photodetachment (SSPD). This was performed by pre-cooling the atoms with helium buffer gas at 295K and further cooling the ions with Rb at 300 μK. SSPD thermometry yielded a 70% decrease of the anions rotational temperature after interaction with Rb. These experimental findings could have direct applications in cold collision studies, quantum control of chemical reactions or sympathetic cooling of anti-protons.

Jan 1, 20180 citations

Realization of an intense cold Rb atomic beam based on a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap: Experiments and comparison with simulations

Saptarishi Chaudhuri, Sanjukta Roy, C. S. Unnikrishnan

We discuss the implementation and characterization of the source of a slow, intense, and collimated beam of rubidium atoms. The cold atomic beam is produced by two-dimensional magneto-optical trapping in directions transverse to the atomic beam axis and unbalanced Doppler cooling in the axial direction. The vacuum design allows use of relatively low laser power and a considerably simplified assembly. The atomic beam has a high flux of about $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{10}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{atoms}∕\mathrm{s}$ at a total cooling laser power of $55\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mW}$ . It has a narrow longitudinal velocity distribution with mean velocity $15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ with full width at half maximum $3.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ and has a low divergence of $26\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mrad}$ . The high flux enables ultrafast loading of about ${10}^{10}$ atoms into a three-dimensional (3D) magneto-optical trap within 500 ms. The variation of the atomic beam flux was studied as a function of the rubidium vapor pressure, cooling laser power, transverse cooling laser beam length, detuning of the cooling laser, and relative intensities of the cooling beams along the atomic beam axis. We also discuss a detailed comparison of our measurements of the cold atomic beam with a 3D numerical simulation.We discuss the implementation and characterization of the source of a slow, intense, and collimated beam of rubidium atoms. The cold atomic beam is produced by two-dimensional magneto-optical trapping in directions transverse to the atomic beam axis and unbalanced Doppler cooling in the axial direction. The vacuum design allows use of relatively low laser power and a considerably simplified assembly. The atomic beam has a high flux of about $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{10}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{atoms}∕\mathrm{s}$ at a total cooling laser power of $55\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mW}$. It has a narrow longitudinal velocity distribution with mean velocity $15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ with full width at half maximum $3.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}$ and has a low divergence of $26\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mrad}$. The high flux enables ultrafast loading of about ${10}^{10}$ atoms into a three-dimensional (3D) magneto-optical trap within 500 ms. The variation of the atomic beam flux was studied as a function of the rubidium vapor pressure, cooling laser power, transverse cooling laser beam length, detuning of the cooling laser, and relative intensities of the cooling beams along the atomic beam axis. We also discuss a detailed comparison of our measurements of the cold atomic beam with a 3D numerical simulation.

Physical Review AAug 18, 200663 citations

Manipulating and measuring single atoms in the Maltese cross geometry

Lorena C. Bianchet, Natalia Fernandes de Oliveira Alves, Laura Zarraoa +2 more

We describe optical methods for trapping, cooling, and observing single $^{87}$ Rb atoms in a four-lens "Maltese cross" geometry (MCG). The use of four high numerical-aperture lenses in the cardinal directions enables efficient collection of light from non-collinear directions, but also restricts the optical access for cooling and optical pumping tasks. We demonstrate three-dimensional atom localization with sub-wavelength precision, and present measurements of the trap lifetime, temperature and transverse trap frequency in this geometry. We observe a trap performance comparable to what has been reported for single-atom traps with one- or two-lens optical systems, and conclude that the additional coupling directions provided by the MCG come at little cost to other trap characteristics.We describe optical methods for trapping, cooling, and observing single $^{87}$Rb atoms in a four-lens "Maltese cross" geometry (MCG). The use of four high numerical-aperture lenses in the cardinal directions enables efficient collection of light from non-collinear directions, but also restricts the optical access for cooling and optical pumping tasks. We demonstrate three-dimensional atom localization with sub-wavelength precision, and present measurements of the trap lifetime, temperature and transverse trap frequency in this geometry. We observe a trap performance comparable to what has been reported for single-atom traps with one- or two-lens optical systems, and conclude that the additional coupling directions provided by the MCG come at little cost to other trap characteristics.

arXiv:2103.05783Mar 9, 20210 citations

55\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mW}

. It has a narrow longitudinal velocity distribution with mean velocity

15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}

with full width at half maximum

3.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s}

and has a low divergence of

26\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mrad}

. The high flux enables ultrafast loading of about

{10}^{10}

atoms into a three-dimensional (3D) magneto-optical trap within 500 ms. The variation of the atomic beam flux was studied as a function of the rubidium vapor pressure, cooling laser power, transverse cooling laser beam length, detuning of the cooling laser, and relative intensities of the cooling beams along the atomic beam axis. We also discuss a detailed comparison of our measurements of the cold atomic beam with a 3D numerical simulation.

We describe optical methods for trapping, cooling, and observing single

^{87}

Rb atoms in a four-lens "Maltese cross" geometry (MCG). The use of four high numerical-aperture lenses in the cardinal directions enables efficient collection of light from non-collinear directions, but also restricts the optical access for cooling and optical pumping tasks. We demonstrate three-dimensional atom localization with sub-wavelength precision, and present measurements of the trap lifetime, temperature and transverse trap frequency in this geometry. We observe a trap performance comparable to what has been reported for single-atom traps with one- or two-lens optical systems, and conclude that the additional coupling directions provided by the MCG come at little cost to other trap characteristics.