Creating a self-induced dark spontaneous-force optical trap for neutral atoms
This communication describes the observation of a new type of dark spontaneous-force optical trap (dark SPOT) obtained without the use of a mask blocking the central part of the repumper laser beam. We observe that loading a magneto-optical trap from a continuous and intense flux of slowed atoms and...
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Published in | Optics communications Vol. 235; no. 4; pp. 333 - 340 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Amsterdam
Elsevier B.V
15.05.2004
Elsevier Science |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | This communication describes the observation of a new type of dark spontaneous-force optical trap (dark SPOT) obtained without the use of a mask blocking the central part of the repumper laser beam. We observe that loading a magneto-optical trap from a continuous and intense flux of slowed atoms and by appropriately tuning the frequency of the repumper laser is possible to achieve basically the same effect of the dark SPOT, using a simpler apparatus. This work characterizes the new system through measurements of absorption and fluorescence imaging of the atomic cloud and presents a very simple model to explain the main features of our observations. We believe that this new approach may simplify the current experiments to produce quantum degenerated gases. |
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ISSN: | 0030-4018 1873-0310 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.optcom.2004.02.062 |