© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

Review of Scientific Instruments

A hybrid Zeeman slower for lithium

Davis Garwood, Liyu Liu, Jirayu Mongkolkiattichai, Jin Yang, Peter Schauß

Published Mar 1, 2022• 5 citations

Abstract

Zeeman slowers come in two commonly used types: electromagnet-based slowers and permanent-magnet slowers. Both have characteristic advantages and disadvantages. The electric currents required to create strong magnetic fields lead to heat dissipation that limits the achievable fields, while permanent-magnet slowers cause bias magnetic fields at the position of the magneto-optical trap. Here, we combine both approaches and their advantages at our lithium-6 triangular-lattice quantum gas microscope and extend the field of an electromagnet-based Zeeman slower using permanent magnets. We observe nearly doubled loading rates of the magneto-optical trap and no significant stray fields in the trapping region. Our approach allows for a stronger magnetic field in places where geometric constraints prevent the use of coils, and it provides a low-cost upgrade to the loading rate at established experiments.

DOI: 10.1063/5.0081080

Related papers

Permanent magnet-based Zeeman slower for lithium atoms

Roy Elbaz, Fatema Hamodi-Gzal, N. Priel +2 more

We describe the design, construction, and characterization of a permanent-magnet-based, transverse-field Zeeman slower for lithium atoms. We use off-the-shelf, compact permanent bar magnets in the Halbach configuration to create a uniform magnetic field in the transverse direction. We develop a general approach for a mechanical structure that supports the spatial distribution of magnets using 3D printing technology. The approach allows for flexible assembly and dismantling of the magnetic field on the target vacuum system. Finally, we verify that the Zeeman slower supports a high flux of slow atoms in the region of the magneto-optical trap.

arXiv:2509.00790•Review of Scientific Instruments•Dec 1, 2025•0 citations

A Zeeman slower design with permanent magnets in a Halbach configuration

P. Cheiney, Olivier Carraz, D. Bartoszek-Bober +7 more

We describe a simple Zeeman slower design using permanent magnets. Contrary to common wire-wound setups, no electric power and water cooling are required. In addition, the whole system can be assembled and disassembled at will. The magnetic field is however transverse to the atomic motion and an extra repumper laser is necessary. A Halbach configuration of the magnets produces a high quality magnetic field and no further adjustment is needed. After optimization of the laser parameters, the apparatus produces an intense beam of slow and cold (87)Rb atoms. With typical fluxes of (1-5) × 10(10) atoms/s at 30 m s(-1), our apparatus efficiently loads a large magneto-optical trap with more than 10(10) atoms in 1 s, which is an ideal starting point for degenerate quantum gas experiments.

arXiv:1101.3243•Review of Scientific Instruments•Jun 1, 2011•52 citations

Optimum design and construction of a Zeeman slower for use with a magneto-optic trap

C. J. Dedman, J. Nes, Thomas M. Hanna +3 more

A method for optimizing the design and construction of a Zeeman slower coil is presented. Unlike traditional designs, the measured magnetic field profile very accurately matches the desired field profile, enabling significant advantages for loading a magneto-optic trap.

Review of Scientific Instruments•Nov 10, 2004•41 citations

A Zeeman slower based on permanent magnets for optical atomic clocks

Sławomir Bilicki, Piotr Morzyński, Simon Stellmer +1 more

Abstract We present a modular Zeeman slower (ZS) based on permanent magnets, designed for miniaturized quantum sensor applications like Sr optical lattice clocks. Using a longitudinal magnetic field geometry, the 3D printed system replicates the field profile of traditional solenoid-based ZSs without power consumption or active cooling. The ZS achieves comparable performance to solenoid-based designs, with a similar number of Sr atoms loaded into the magneto-optical trap at 461 nm transition. This approach offers a low-cost, low-power solution for portable quantum technologies.

Measurement Science and Technology•Jun 3, 2026•0 citations

An experimental apparatus for the laser cooling of lithium and rubidium

William Bowden

We demonstrate a two species effusive source and Zeeman slower for lithium 6 and rubidium 85. The fluxes produced by this slower allow for magneto-optical trap loading rates in excess of 10⁸ atoms per second for both species. A detailed model is developed to predict the emission properties of the effusive source along with the flux of cold atoms produced by the slower. Novel to this design is the mating of Zeeman slower magnetic field to the field produced by trapping coils which increases the effective length over which atoms are slowed. This allows for a smaller, more compact slower, without a sacrifice in performance. Details relating to the design and performance of the vacuum system and magnetic field producing coils are also covered. The apparatus can be easily adapted to operate with different atomic species making it well suited for ultracold atomic physics experiments studying mixtures or as starting point for the creation of hetero-nuclear molecules.

•Jan 1, 2014•2 citations

Detailed study of a transverse field Zeeman slower

D Ben Ali, Thomas Badr, T Brézillon +3 more

Abstract We present a thorough analysis of a Zeeman slower for sodium atoms made of permanent magnets in a Halbach configuration. Due to the orientation of the magnetic field, the polarization of the slowing laser beam cannot be purely circular, leading to optical leakages into dark states. To circumvent this effect, we propose an atomic state preparation stage that is able to significantly increase the performance of the Zeeman slower. After a careful theoretical analysis of the problem, we experimentally implement an optical pumping stage leading to an increase in the magneto-optical trap loading rate by 3.5. Such a method is easy to set up and could be extended to other Zeeman slower architectures.

arXiv:1609.06525•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Jan 19, 2017•15 citations

Zeeman slowers come in two commonly used types: electromagnet-based slowers and permanent-magnet slowers. Both have characteristic advantages and disadvantages. The electric currents required to create strong magnetic fields lead to heat dissipation that limits the achievable fields, while permanent-magnet slowers cause bias magnetic fields at the position of the magneto-optical trap. Here, we combine both approaches and their advantages at our lithium-6 triangular-lattice quantum gas microscope and extend the field of an electromagnet-based Zeeman slower using permanent magnets. We observe nearly doubled loading rates of the magneto-optical trap and no significant stray fields in the trapping region. Our approach allows for a stronger magnetic field in places where geometric constraints prevent the use of coils, and it provides a low-cost upgrade to the loading rate at established experiments.

We describe the design, construction, and characterization of a permanent-magnet-based, transverse-field Zeeman slower for lithium atoms. We use off-the-shelf, compact permanent bar magnets in the Halbach configuration to create a uniform magnetic field in the transverse direction. We develop a general approach for a mechanical structure that supports the spatial distribution of magnets using 3D printing technology. The approach allows for flexible assembly and dismantling of the magnetic field on the target vacuum system. Finally, we verify that the Zeeman slower supports a high flux of slow atoms in the region of the magneto-optical trap.

We describe a simple Zeeman slower design using permanent magnets. Contrary to common wire-wound setups, no electric power and water cooling are required. In addition, the whole system can be assembled and disassembled at will. The magnetic field is however transverse to the atomic motion and an extra repumper laser is necessary. A Halbach configuration of the magnets produces a high quality magnetic field and no further adjustment is needed. After optimization of the laser parameters, the apparatus produces an intense beam of slow and cold (87)Rb atoms. With typical fluxes of (1-5) × 10(10) atoms/s at 30 m s(-1), our apparatus efficiently loads a large magneto-optical trap with more than 10(10) atoms in 1 s, which is an ideal starting point for degenerate quantum gas experiments.

Abstract We present a modular Zeeman slower (ZS) based on permanent magnets, designed for miniaturized quantum sensor applications like Sr optical lattice clocks. Using a longitudinal magnetic field geometry, the 3D printed system replicates the field profile of traditional solenoid-based ZSs without power consumption or active cooling. The ZS achieves comparable performance to solenoid-based designs, with a similar number of Sr atoms loaded into the magneto-optical trap at 461 nm transition. This approach offers a low-cost, low-power solution for portable quantum technologies.

We demonstrate a two species effusive source and Zeeman slower for lithium 6 and rubidium 85. The fluxes produced by this slower allow for magneto-optical trap loading rates in excess of 10⁸ atoms per second for both species. A detailed model is developed to predict the emission properties of the effusive source along with the flux of cold atoms produced by the slower. Novel to this design is the mating of Zeeman slower magnetic field to the field produced by trapping coils which increases the effective length over which atoms are slowed. This allows for a smaller, more compact slower, without a sacrifice in performance. Details relating to the design and performance of the vacuum system and magnetic field producing coils are also covered. The apparatus can be easily adapted to operate with different atomic species making it well suited for ultracold atomic physics experiments studying mixtures or as starting point for the creation of hetero-nuclear molecules.

Abstract We present a thorough analysis of a Zeeman slower for sodium atoms made of permanent magnets in a Halbach configuration. Due to the orientation of the magnetic field, the polarization of the slowing laser beam cannot be purely circular, leading to optical leakages into dark states. To circumvent this effect, we propose an atomic state preparation stage that is able to significantly increase the performance of the Zeeman slower. After a careful theoretical analysis of the problem, we experimentally implement an optical pumping stage leading to an increase in the magneto-optical trap loading rate by 3.5. Such a method is easy to set up and could be extended to other Zeeman slower architectures.