Abstract

We demonstrate enhanced loading of a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap for sodium atoms operating on a combination of atomic transitions, known in the literature as type I tuning, by using a second, nonoverlapping laser beam that captures atoms through a different combination of transitions (type II tuning). This two-color trap configuration has allowed us to achieve an ~10-fold improvement in the number and density of trapped atoms.

© 1995 Optical Society of America

Improved magneto-optic trapping in a vapor cell

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