Experiments with Supersonic Beams as a Source of Cold Atoms
Experiments with Supersonic Beams as a Source of Cold Atoms
Experiments with Supersonic Beams as a Source of Cold Atoms
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5.2.2.1 Principle <strong>of</strong> Operation <strong>of</strong> the Trap<br />
To maximize the number <strong>of</strong> atoms trapped at the end <strong>of</strong> the coilgun, the<br />
coilgun and trap need to be mode-matched. What this means is that the stable<br />
ph<strong>as</strong>e space volume <strong>of</strong> the trap should closely match <strong>with</strong> the ph<strong>as</strong>e space volume<br />
occupied by the slowed atoms at the end <strong>of</strong> the coilgun. Using an anti-Helmholtz<br />
trap configuration, <strong>with</strong> appropriate coil dimensions and spacing, enables this. The<br />
anti-Helmholtz trap is placed <strong>as</strong> close <strong>as</strong> possible to the end <strong>of</strong> the coilgun, and the<br />
coils are co-axial <strong>with</strong> the coilgun coils.<br />
To aid in the mode-matching <strong>of</strong> the atoms to the trap, the first trapping coil<br />
the atoms encounter (this is referred to from now on <strong>as</strong> the front trapping coil) will<br />
be used <strong>as</strong> a final slowing coil, and will be operated in the same manner <strong>as</strong> the coilgun<br />
coils. Initially both trap coils are turned on <strong>with</strong> the same polarity (the polarity <strong>of</strong><br />
the coilgun coils). As the atoms enter the front trapping coil, the coil is switched<br />
<strong>of</strong>f, in an exact analog to the coilgun coils used to slow the atoms. Using the front<br />
trapping coil in this manner serves several purposes. First, since the coil is used<br />
<strong>as</strong> the final slowing coil, the atoms can be extracted from the coilgun at a slightly<br />
higher velocity, enabling a slightly greater stable ph<strong>as</strong>e space volume in the coilgun.<br />
Additionally, using the front trapping coil to do the final slowing means that the<br />
atoms do not have much distance to propagate between the l<strong>as</strong>t slowing coil and the<br />
trap center, limiting the degree to which the packet <strong>of</strong> atoms will spread out during<br />
this propagation. Finally, the ph<strong>as</strong>e stability and waveguide effects <strong>of</strong> the coil serve to<br />
preserve the ph<strong>as</strong>e space density <strong>of</strong> the slowed packet and aid in the mode matching<br />
<strong>of</strong> the slowed atoms to the trap.<br />
After the atoms have p<strong>as</strong>sed through the front trapping coil, they enter the<br />
trapping region and will be brought to rest by the magnetic potential <strong>of</strong> the rear<br />
trapping coil. The ph<strong>as</strong>es <strong>of</strong> the coils in the coilgun can be tuned such that the<br />
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