Measurements of temperature and spring constant in magneto-optical trap

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.11.000703· OSTI ID:7295936

Wallace, C D; Dinneen, T P; Tan, K Y.N.; Kumarakrishnan, A; Gould, P L; Javanainen, J ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, U-46, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3046 (United States)

We have measured the low-density characteristics of a magneto-optical trap for both isotopes of rubidium. Trapped-atom temperatures are measured by the time-of-flight technique and are similar to temperatures in optical molasses. They are below the Doppler limit in most cases and increase linearly with the ratio of laser intensity to laser detuning. A slight difference between the two isotopes is observed. The data agree well with three-dimensional, multistate, semiclassical simulations. Spring constants of the trap are inferred from careful measurements of the size of the trapped-atom cloud. The spring constant is seen to increase with intensity at low intensity, becoming independent of intensity at high intensity. This trend is consistent with sub-Doppler cooling mechanisms.

• OSTI ID: 7295936
• Journal Information: Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics; (United States) Vol. 11:5; ISSN JOBPDE; ISSN 0740-3224
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

664200* -- Spectra of Atoms & Molecules & their Interactions with Photons-- (1992-)
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
COOLING
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FUNCTIONS
LASER RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
METALS
OPEN CONFIGURATIONS
RADIATIONS
RUBIDIUM
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K
TRAPPING