Abstract

We investigate the behavior of a cloud of atoms in a magneto-optical trap, which—after collection—is compressed when the field gradients of the trap magnetic field are increased. We measure sizes and shapes of the atom cloud as a function of laser detuning, magnetic field gradient, and number of trapped atoms. A transient density increase of more than an order of magnitude has been achieved. Moreover, reproducible Gaussian density distributions are observed at large detunings and intermediate magnetic-field gradients, permitting an accurate determination of density.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

Forces acting on magneto-optically trapped atoms

I. Guedes, M. T. de Araujo, D. M. B. P. Milori, G. I. Surdutovich, V. S. Bagnato, and S. C. Zilio
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 11(10) 1935-1940 (1994)

Measurements of temperature and spring constant in a magneto-optical trap

C. D. Wallace, T. P. Dinneen, K. Y. N. Tan, A. Kumarakrishnan, P. L. Gould, and J. Javanainen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 11(5) 703-711 (1994)

Improved trapping in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap with multiple laser frequencies

Alastair G. Sinclair, Erling Riis, and Michael J. Snadden
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 11(12) 2333-2339 (1994)

Atomic density and temperature distributions in magneto-optical traps

A. S. Arnold and P. J. Manson
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 17(4) 497-506 (2000)

Magneto-optical trapping and ultracold collisions of potassium atoms

R. S. Williamson and T. Walker
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 12(8) 1393-1397 (1995)