Steady-State Magneto-Optical Trap with 100-Fold Improved Phase-Space Density

We demonstrate a continuously loaded ^{88}Sr magneto-optical trap (MOT) with a steady-state phase-space density of 1.3(2)×10^{-3}. This is 2 orders of magnitude higher than reported in previous steady-state MOTs. Our approach is to flow atoms through a series of spatially separated laser cooling sta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2017-12, Vol.119 (22), p.223202-223202, Article 223202
Main Authors: Bennetts, Shayne, Chen, Chun-Chia, Pasquiou, Benjamin, Schreck, Florian
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We demonstrate a continuously loaded ^{88}Sr magneto-optical trap (MOT) with a steady-state phase-space density of 1.3(2)×10^{-3}. This is 2 orders of magnitude higher than reported in previous steady-state MOTs. Our approach is to flow atoms through a series of spatially separated laser cooling stages before capturing them in a MOT operated on the 7.4-kHz linewidth Sr intercombination line using a hybrid slower+MOT configuration. We also demonstrate producing a Bose-Einstein condensate at the MOT location, despite the presence of laser cooling light on resonance with the 30-MHz linewidth transition used to initially slow atoms in a separate chamber. Our steady-state high phase-space density MOT is an excellent starting point for a continuous atom laser and dead-time free atom interferometers or clocks.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.223202