Fast switching of alkali atom dispensers using laser-induced heating
- Department of Physics, Rochester Building, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
We show that by using an intense laser source to locally heat an alkali atom dispenser, one can generate a high flux of atoms followed by fast recovery (<100 ms) of the background pressure when the laser is extinguished. For repeated heating pulses a switch-on time for the atomic flux of 200 ms is readily attainable. This technique is suited to ultracold atom experiments using simple ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) chambers. Laser-induced heating provides a fast repetition of the experimental cycle, which, combined with low atom loss due to background gas collisions, is particularly useful for experiments involving far-off resonance optical traps, where sufficient laser power (0.5-4 W) is readily available.
- OSTI ID:
- 20723113
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 76; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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