Abstract

In the recent past different atoms have been laser-cooled and captured in magneto-optical traps (MOT’s). While the trapping conditions of alkalis and metastable rare gases have been studied intensively the trapping of alkaline-earth atoms (Mg, Ca, Sr) has been realised only in a few groups [1,2,3]. Nevertheless alkaline-earth atoms are interesting candidates for studies on laser-manipulated atoms because of their J=0->J=1 cooling transition and their narrow intercombination transition, which e.g. allows high resolution spectroscopy on laser trapped atoms [1,2].

© 1996 Optical Society of America