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Cooling and Trapping of Atomic Strontium

Published

Author(s)

X Xu, T Loftus, John L. Hall, Alan Gallagher, Jun Ye

Abstract

We present a detailed investigation of the magneto-optical trap dynamics of alkarne-earth 88Sr atoms. The experimental results establish a firm confirmation of the laser cooling dynamics predicted by Doppler theory in thecontext of a strictly two-level model. However, the temperature measurement implies additional heating mechanisms not accounted for by Doppler theory. To explore the feasibility of reaching quantum degeneracy ofalkaline-earth metals via evaporative cooling, we have demonstrated the first experimental realization of magnetic trapping of 88Sr in a metastable state. Furthermore, the fermionic isotope, 87Sr, is believed to be an ideal candidatefor a future high quality optical frequency standard owing its merit to the ease of cooling and the existence of an ultrahigh-Q optical transition. We present some preliminary results regarding sub-Doppler cooling of 87Sr.
Citation
Journal of the Optical Society of America B-Optical Physics
Volume
20
Issue
No. 5

Keywords

alkaline earth atom, cold collisions, Doppler cooling, magnetic trap, magneto-optical trap, optical frequency standard

Citation

Xu, X. , Loftus, T. , Hall, J. , Gallagher, A. and Ye, J. (2003), Cooling and Trapping of Atomic Strontium, Journal of the Optical Society of America B-Optical Physics (Accessed October 11, 2025)

Issues

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Created April 30, 2003, Updated October 12, 2021
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