High-flux two-dimensional magneto-optical-trap source for cold lithium atoms

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel 2D MOT beam source for cold 6 Li atoms. The source is side-loaded from an oven operated at temperatures in the range 600 T 700 K. The performance is analyzed by loading the atoms into a 3D MOT located 220 mm downstream from the source. The maximum recapture rate of ∼ 10 9 s −1 is obtained for T ≈ 700 K and results in a total of up to 10 10 trapped atoms. The recaptured fraction is estimated to be 30 ± 10% and limited by beam divergence. The most-probable velocity in the beam (αz) is varied from 18 to 70 m/s by increasing the intensity of a push beam. The source is quite monochromatic with a full-width at half maximum velocity spread of 11 m/s at αz = 36 m/s, demonstrating that side-loading completely eliminates beam contamination by hot vapor from the oven. We identify depletion of the low-velocity tail of the oven flux as the limiting loss mechanism. Our approach is suitable for other atomic species.

Electron and recoil ion momentum imaging with a magneto-optically trapped target

“…Compared to other lithium MOTs reported in literature 23,44,51 , the obtained particle numbers are two to three orders of magnitude lower, because the loss rates of atoms in the 2.5D MOT are higher and the loading rates lower as compared to conventional MOT operation. However, in the experiments performed so far the achievable data rate was limited by the performance of the acquisition electronics rather than by the obtainable luminosities because the low target densities could easily be compensated by very high projectile beam intensities.…”

A self-injected, diode-pumped, solid-state ring laser for laser cooling of Li atoms

“…We used this technique to stabilize a homemade dye laser for laser cooling experiments at the University of Amsterdam 16 . In this instance, the external cavity contained a Faraday rotator, etalon, and a diffraction grating for further mode selection, so that the internal laser cavity contains no elements aside from the gain medium.…”

An experimental approach for investigating many-body phenomena in Rydberg-interacting quantum systems

“…Two perpendicular planes hold one inch polarization optics for three equally spaced 2D cooling regions, that are generated by retroreflected laser beams with 20 mm diameter each. Two units with six permanent neodymium bar magnets [46] are oriented in the third bisecting plane and realize twodimensional magnetic trapping fields with a field gradient of 16 G/cm. A 7 mm diameter pushing beam propagates along the symmetry axis of the glass cell and guides the pre-cooled atoms through the 800 µm diameter exit hole of the differential pumping stage into the science chamber.…”