Abstract
We present the experimental observation of rings of sodium atoms in a cold vapor cell and a theoretical model based on the existence of vortex forces leading to stable circular orbits. The apparatus for this experiment consists of a Zeeman-shift spontaneous-force trap,1 similar to the one used for Cs atoms.2 In the case of well-aligned laser beams and with the laser tuned 10 MHz below resonance, we observe a bright ball with 1 to 2 mm at the trap center. If one of the beams is misaligned by a small rotation of the retro-reflector, the initially spheric ball deforms to a dwell shape. When a second beam is also misaligned, the formation of a ring is observed.
© 1992 Optical Society of America
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