Experiments to Control Atom Number and Phase-Space Density in ...
Experiments to Control Atom Number and Phase-Space Density in ...
Experiments to Control Atom Number and Phase-Space Density in ...
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2.5 Magnetic Interactions with A<strong>to</strong>ms<br />
This section describes the effect of an external magnetic field on the a<strong>to</strong>mic energy<br />
structure (anomalous <strong>and</strong> normal Zeeman effect) <strong>and</strong> on the scatter<strong>in</strong>g properties of<br />
a<strong>to</strong>ms (magnetic Feshbach resonance). The Zeeman effect is utilized both <strong>in</strong> the Zeeman<br />
slower (see chapters 2.7 <strong>and</strong> 7.2.1) <strong>in</strong> a magne<strong>to</strong>-optical trap. In addition, magnetic<br />
trapp<strong>in</strong>g of a<strong>to</strong>ms would not be possible without the Zeeman effect. Magnetic Feshbach<br />
resonances lead <strong>to</strong> a strong dependence between the scatter<strong>in</strong>g length of the a<strong>to</strong>ms <strong>and</strong><br />
an externally applied homogeneous magnetic field. This effect can be exploited, for<br />
example, <strong>to</strong> decrease evaporation times, see chapter 2.10.<br />
2.5.1 Anomalous <strong>and</strong> Normal Zeeman Effect<br />
The anomalous Zeeman effect describes the energy shift of a<strong>to</strong>mic states <strong>in</strong> the<br />
presence of a weak external magnetic field. Weak <strong>in</strong> this context means that the <strong>in</strong>-<br />
teraction energy between the <strong>to</strong>tal angular momentum of the a<strong>to</strong>m <strong>and</strong> the external<br />
magnetic field is small compared <strong>to</strong> the <strong>in</strong>teraction energy between the electron sp<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> the nuclear sp<strong>in</strong> of the a<strong>to</strong>m. This means that the <strong>to</strong>tal angular momentum F will<br />
precess along the magnetic field axis, see figure 2.7. In stronger magnetic fields, angular<br />
momenta start <strong>to</strong> decouple. This is described by the normal Zeeman effect <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Paschen-Back effect.<br />
Figure 2.7: In the anomalous Zeeman regime the <strong>to</strong>tal angular momentum F = I + J<br />
precesses around the magnetic field axis. Figure courtesy of Gabriel Price.<br />
B<br />
11<br />
F<br />
J<br />
I