Laser Cooling Without Repumping: A Magneto-Optical Trap for Erbium Atoms

Published

April 14, 2006

Author(s)

Jabez J. McClelland, James L. Hanssen

Abstract

We report on a novel mechanism that allows for laser cooling of atoms that do not have a closed cycling transition. This mechanism is observed in a magneto-optical trap for erbium, an atom with a very complex energy level structure with multiple pathways for optical pumping losses. We observe surprisingly high trap populations of over 10⁶ atoms and densities of over 10¹¹ atoms cm^-3, despite the many potential loss channels. A model based on recycling of metastable and ground state atoms held in the quadrupole magnetic field of the trap explains the high trap population, and agrees well with time-dependent measurements of MOT fluorescence. The demonstration of trapping of a rare-earth atom such as erbium opens a wide range of new possibilities for practical applications and fundamental studies with cold atoms.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Volume

96

Issue

14

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

ATOM

Citation

McClelland, J. and Hanssen, J. (2006), Laser Cooling Without Repumping: A Magneto-Optical Trap for Erbium Atoms, Physical Review Letters (Accessed October 4, 2023)