Laser cooling without repumping: a magneto-optical trap for erbium atoms

We report on a novel mechanism that allows for strong laser cooling of atoms that do not have a closed cycling transition. This mechanism is observed in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for erbium, an atom with a very complex energy level structure with multiple pathways for optical-pumping losses. We o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2006-04, Vol.96 (14), p.143005-143005, Article 143005
Main Authors: McClelland, J J, Hanssen, J L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ATOMS
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
COOLING
DENSITY
ERBIUM
FLUORESCENCE
GROUND STATES
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
METASTABLE STATES
OPTICAL PUMPING
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
QUADRUPOLES
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRAPPING
TRAPS
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Summary:We report on a novel mechanism that allows for strong laser cooling of atoms that do not have a closed cycling transition. This mechanism is observed in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for erbium, an atom with a very complex energy level structure with multiple pathways for optical-pumping losses. We observe surprisingly high trap populations of over 10(6) atoms and densities of over 10(11) atoms cm(-3), despite the many potential loss channels. A model based on recycling of metastable and ground state atoms held in the quadrupole magnetic field of the trap explains the high trap population, and agrees well with time-dependent measurements of MOT fluorescence. The demonstration of trapping of a rare-earth atom such as erbium opens a wide range of new possibilities for practical applications and fundamental studies with cold atoms.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.96.143005