Characteristics of unconventional Rb magneto-optical traps
File(s)PhysRevA.98.043432.pdf (1.01 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Jarvis, Kyle
Sauer, Ben
Tarbutt, Michael
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We study several new magneto-optical trapping configurations in ⁸⁷Rb. These unconventional MOTs all use type-II transitions, where the angular momentum of the ground state is greater than or equal to that of the excited state. Some use red-detuned light, and others blue-detuned light. The properties of these MOTs are strongly influenced by the balance between opposing Doppler and Sisyphus forces, and vary widely from one configuration to another. In the blue-detuned MOT, Sisyphus cooling dominates over Doppler heating for all relevant speeds and magnetic fields. We measure the capture velocity of this MOT as a function of intensity and detuning, finding a maximum of 3.8 ± 0.1 m/s. Atomic densities are particularly high in the blue-detuned MOT, and its lifetime is limited by collisions between the trapped atoms. We present measurements of the loss rate due to these ultracold collisions as a function of laser intensity and detuning. In the red-detuned MOTs, Sisyphus heating dominates at low speeds and Doppler cooling at higher speeds. Consequently, temperatures in the red-detuned MOTs are up to a thousand times higher than in the blue-detuned MOTs. One MOT forms large ring structures, with no density at the centre, showing how atoms driven towards a non-zero equilibrium speed remain trapped by orbiting around the centre. Another MOT demonstrates that magnetic mixing of the excited-state hyperfine levels can be an important mechanism in type-II MOTs.
Date Issued
2018-10-25
Date Acceptance
2018-09-28
Citation
Physical Review A, 2018, 98
ISSN
1050-2947
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review A
Volume
98
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/I012044/1
RF040529
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Optics
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
Physics
LOSS COLLISIONS
ULTRACOLD COLLISIONS
SODIUM ATOMS
VAPOR CELL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 043432