Optical-Dipole-Force-Fiber Guiding and Heating of Atoms

Published

May 1, 1997

Author(s)

M J. Renn, A A. Zozulya, E A. Donley, Eric A. Cornell, D Z. Anderson

Abstract

We use optical dipole forces to guide atoms through hollow-core optical fibers. Laser light is focused into the hollow region of 40 υm inner diameter capillary fiber and guided through the fiber by grazing incidence reflection from the glass walls. The lowest order mode is azimuthally symmetric with maximum intensity on the fiber axis and nearly zero intensity at the walls. Rb atoms are attracted to the high intensity region along the axis when the laser is detuned to the red of resonance and consequently guided through the fiber. We present measurements and calculations of the dependence of guided atom flux on laser intensity, detuning from resonance and fiber. We present measurements and calculations of the dependence of guided atom flux on laser intensity, detuning from resonance and fiber radius of curvature. Of particular interest is the evolution of the detuning curves with increasing intensity. At high intensity, viscous dipole guiding potential is purely conservative and the flux profile is approximately dispersion shaped. At high intensity, viscous dipole forces heat the atoms and burn a hole in the flux-detuning curve. We find that transverse heating of the atoms and the exponential attenuation of optical mode intensity limit the distance atoms may be guided to about 20 cm in a 40υm diameter fiber.

Citation

Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

Volume

55

Issue

No. 5

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

atom heating, atomic waveguides, dipole force

Citation

Renn, M. , Zozulya, A. , Donley, E. , Cornell, E. and Anderson, D. (1997), Optical-Dipole-Force-Fiber Guiding and Heating of Atoms, Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics) (Accessed December 13, 2024)