Abstract

A Zeeman slower [1] is a specially designed magnet that produces a spatially non-uniform Zeeman frequency shift of a basic electron atomic transition to compensate its Doppler frequency shift during deceleration of atoms by resonant laser light. This method makes it possible to decelerate continuously a large fraction of atoms in a thermal atomic beam down to velocities of about 20-30 m/s, which can then be trapped by standard magneto-optical traps. This method of slowing of atoms is very efficient and in some experiments has no alternative.

© 2007 IEEE