Laser Cooling of Lithium Atoms by a Strong Standing Wave

Abstract

Dipole force has been used to deflect an atomic beam by large angles and to effect a large increase of the atomic beam intensity. The cooling of transverse velocities of lithium atoms in an atomic beam in the regime of very high standing wave intensity (Rabi frequency ≈ 50) and long interaction time (approximately 5 μs) by using a standing wave with an asymmetric beam waist has been investigated. The transverse position of the atoms is detected by an iridium hot wire located approximately 30 cm downstream from the standing wave. The force for various detunings from resonance has been studied. The hot wire signal when the laser frequency is tuned several linewidths to the blue shows that atoms with very small transverse velocity are cooled, whereas those with greater velocity are heated. Data for two different values of red detuning show that atoms with very small velocities (depending on the magnitude of the detuning) are heated and all other velocities are cooled.

Meeting Name

17th International Conference on Quantum Electronics (1990: May 21-25, Anaheim, CA)

Department(s)

Physics

Keywords and Phrases

Atomic Beams; Spectroscopy - Laser Applications; Atomic Beam Deflection; Atoms Cooling; Digest of Paper; Standing Waves; Lithium and Alloys

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

1-55752-145-X

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1990 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 1990

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