Experiments With Strontium in a Vapor Cell Magneto-Optic Trap

Published

May 1, 2000

Author(s)

K R. Vogel, Tim P. Dinneen, Alan Gallagher, J L. Hall

Abstract

In a ceramic vapor cell we have created a robust Sr magneto-optical trap that stores about 10⁸ atoms with lifetimes > 200 ms. We eliminate the 5p ¹P₁->4d ^1d2->5p ³P₂ leak and achieve a 10-fold improvement in trap lifetime by repumping the 5p ³Po.2 dark states with 679 nm and 707 nm light. The observed lifetime is now limited by cold collision losses, and we have preliminary measurements of the 2-body loss rate. Direct readout of the trap velocity distribution is possible using the narrow (7kHz) 5s²¹S_o->5p ³P₁ intercombination line at 689 nm. We can also cool with this narrow transition and have achieved a 40-fold 1-D velocity compression for about 5% of the trapped atoms by applying this second-stage cooling.

Proceedings Title

Methods for Ultrasensitive Detection | | Methods for Ultrasensitive Detection | SPIE

Conference Dates

January 1, 1998

Conference Title

Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

alkaline earths, cold collisions, frequency metrology, laser cooling, laser trapping

Citation

Vogel, K. , Dinneen, T. , Gallagher, A. and Hall, J. (2000), Experiments With Strontium in a Vapor Cell Magneto-Optic Trap, Methods for Ultrasensitive Detection | | Methods for Ultrasensitive Detection | SPIE (Accessed April 26, 2024)