Wedemonstrate aside-pumping technique forhigh efficiency (>80%) light coupling into double-clad hollow-core optical fibers forevanescent waveatom-guiding. Weexamine the benefits ofthescheme andtechniques foroptimizing atomthroughput. ©D2001Optical Society ofAmerica OCIScodes: (060.2310) Fiber optics, (140.3320) Laser cooling