Temperature measurements of laser trapped rubidium

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Bulletin of the American Physical Society

OSTI ID:281610

Dinneen, T P; Wallace, C D; Tan, K Y.N.; Kumarakrishnan, A; Gould, P L

Temperatures of rubidium atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap have been measured using time-of-flight. By varying the parameters of the trap, we find that lower temperatures are obtained with lower laser intensities, larger laser detunings, lower atomic densities, and with the 85 vs. the 87 isotope. Temperatures are below the Doppler limit (140 {mu}K for Rb) in most cases. By measuring the size of the trapped cloud as well as the temperature, we can infer the spring constant of the trap. For comparison purposes, we can measure temperatures in optical molasses by turning off the magnetic field of the trap.

• OSTI ID: 281610
• Report Number(s): CONF-9305421--
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal Name: Bulletin of the American Physical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 38; ISSN BAPSA6; ISSN 0003-0503
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
LASER RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
RUBIDIUM
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
TRAPS