Forces on Neutral Atoms Due to Electromagnetic Fields.
Abstract
The construction of the superconducting magnetic trap was completed and, as a major breakthrough in the field, was used to trap large numbers of neutral sodium atoms approx. 10 to the 9th power for periods of several minutes. This represented an advance of several orders of magnitude compared to previous neutral trapping experiments, both in numbers of trapped atoms, and in trapping times achieved. The continuous loading process pioneered in this experiment has represented an important advance over previous pulsed loading schemes, as it has permitted the accumulation of much larger numbers of atoms in the trap. The fluorescence spectra of the trapped atoms is studied using a weak probe laser beam (I =(I sub sat/10,000), which does not affect the trapped atoms appreciably. Doppler cooling of the trapped atoms is studied using this spectrum to measure the temperature of the atomic sample. Observed, for the first time, is the effect of gravity on trapped atoms: the trapped atoms do not accumulate at the minimum of the magnetic field, but at the minimum of the total mechanical potential obtained when including the effect of gravity. RF resonance will be used to study the trapped atoms, and optical-RF cyclic cooling of the atoms will be used to attempt to achieve sample temperatures < or = .000001 K.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA187461
Entities
People
- David E. Pritchard
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology