Three-Dimensional Confinement and Cooling of Atoms by Resonance Radiation Pressure (With 4 Figures)

We report the viscous confinement and cooling of neutral sodium atoms in three dimensions via the radiation pressure of counterpropagating laser beams. These atoms have a density of about \ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ and a temperature of \ensuremath{\sim}240 \ensuremath{\mu}K corresponding to a rms velocity of \ensuremath{\sim}60 cm/sec. This temperature is approximately the quantum limit for this atomic transition. The decay time for half the atoms to escape a \ensuremath{\sim}0.2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ confinement volume is \ensuremath{\sim}0.1 sec.We report the viscous confinement and cooling of neutral sodium atoms in three dimensions via the radiation pressure of counterpropagating laser beams. These atoms have a density of about \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ and a temperature of \ensuremath{\sim}240 \ensuremath{\mu}K corresponding to a rms velocity of \ensuremath{\sim}60 cm/sec. This temperature is approximately the quantum limit for this atomic transition. The decay time for half the atoms to escape a \ensuremath{\sim}0.2${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ confinement volume is \ensuremath{\sim}0.1 sec.

Physical Review LettersJul 1, 1985852 citations

Effect of radiation pressure on the nonlinear susceptibility of resonant atoms

A. P. Kazantsev, Gregory I. Surdutovich, Valery P. Yakovlev

Mar 1, 19861 citation

{10}^{6}

${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ and a temperature of \ensuremath{\sim}240 \ensuremath{\mu}K corresponding to a rms velocity of \ensuremath{\sim}60 cm/sec. This temperature is approximately the quantum limit for this atomic transition. The decay time for half the atoms to escape a \ensuremath{\sim}0.2

{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}

confinement volume is \ensuremath{\sim}0.1 sec.