24.07.2013 Views

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 ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Here ω0 is the resonance frequency at zero magnetic field, ωlaser the laser frequency, <strong>and</strong><br />

v the speed of the a<strong>to</strong>ms. A schematic of a Zeeman slower <strong>and</strong> the ideal magnetic field<br />

profile are shown <strong>in</strong> figure 2.13.<br />

oven<br />

a<strong>to</strong>mic<br />

beam<br />

Zeeman slower coils<br />

B<br />

z<br />

Zeeman slower beam<br />

Figure 2.13: Zeeman slower setup <strong>in</strong> decreas<strong>in</strong>g field configuration. An effusive a<strong>to</strong>mic<br />

beam is created by heat<strong>in</strong>g the oven hous<strong>in</strong>g a reservoir. The beam then travels along<br />

the Zeeman slower axis. The a<strong>to</strong>ms scatter pho<strong>to</strong>ns from a counter-propagat<strong>in</strong>g laser<br />

beam <strong>and</strong> are decelarated by the exerted scatter<strong>in</strong>g force. A magnetic field created by<br />

electromagnetic coils causes a Zeeman shift, keep<strong>in</strong>g the laser frequency on resonance<br />

with the a<strong>to</strong>mic transition as the Doppler shift of the a<strong>to</strong>m changes due <strong>to</strong> deceleration.<br />

The ideal profile of the magnetic field is shown below the magnetic field region.<br />

2.8 Optical Molasses<br />

Optical Molasses is a laser cool<strong>in</strong>g technique solely rely<strong>in</strong>g on the transfer of<br />

momentum from pho<strong>to</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> a<strong>to</strong>ms. The st<strong>and</strong>ard configuration of an optical molasses<br />

setup consists of three pairs of counter-propagat<strong>in</strong>g laser beams [22, 35], see figure 2.14.<br />

All beams have the same frequency, tuned slightly below resonance, <strong>and</strong> each pair has<br />

balanced <strong>in</strong>tensities. The effect of this configuration is unders<strong>to</strong>od the easiest <strong>in</strong> one<br />

dimension. A stationary a<strong>to</strong>m experiences no net force <strong>and</strong> on average the <strong>in</strong>teraction<br />

vanishes. However, if an a<strong>to</strong>m is mov<strong>in</strong>g, the symmetry of the situation is broken.<br />

Consider an a<strong>to</strong>m mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> the right with velocity v as shown <strong>in</strong> figure 2.14.<br />

Due <strong>to</strong> the Doppler-shift, the a<strong>to</strong>m will then scatter more pho<strong>to</strong>ns from the beam com<strong>in</strong>g<br />

20

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!