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Phys. Rev. A 64, 031405 (2001) [4 pages]

Continuous loading of a magnetic trap

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J. Stuhler *, P. O. Schmidt *, S. Hensler *, J. Werner *, J. Mlynek, and T. Pfau *
Fachbereich für Physik, Universität Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany

Rapid Communication Received 30 October 2000; published 20 August 2001

We have realized a scheme for continuous loading of a magnetic trap (MT). 52Cr atoms are continuously captured and cooled in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Optical pumping to a metastable state decouples atoms from the cooling light. Due to their high magnetic moment (6 μB), low-field seeking metastable atoms are trapped in the magnetic quadrupole field provided by the MOT. Limited by inelastic collisions between atoms in the MOT and in the MT, we load 108 metastable atoms at a rate of 108 atoms/s below 100 μK into the MT. Optical repumping after the loading allows us to realize a MT of ground-state chromium atoms.


©2001 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v64/e031405
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.64.031405
PACS: 32.80.Pj, 34.50.Rk

* Present address: 5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany.

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