Karpov, K. A. | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2020

Trapping of lithium atoms in a large hollow optical dipole trap

We describe the trapping of lithium atoms in an optical dipole trap about 1 mm in size, with a nearly rectangular potential. The trap has the shape of a cylinder with flat bases. The confinement region is bounded by thin walls produced by light with a frequency blue-detuned from an atomic transition (resonance) frequency by 19 GHz. Before trapping, the gas is collected and cooled in a magneto-optical trap whose centre nearly coincides with the centre of the dipole trap. After switching off the magneto-optical trap, we have photographed the atoms remaining in the dipole trap. (paper)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2019

Downward the temperature scale

Approaches to deep cooling of atomic gases are discussed. The delta kick cooling and adiabatic expansion as well as the limitations of the former are considered. The applicability of hollow optical dipole traps based on radiation of near-resonance transition frequency in atoms is shown. The possibility of designing such traps with a size of ∼1 mm is analysed and the prospects for their use for cooling atoms by evaporation and adiabatic expansion are discussed. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗