Progress towards a continuous atom laser

We report on progress towards a continuous atom laser. In a previous design, $^{87}$Rb atoms are guided in a high-gradient, linear magnetic guide with a transverse temperature of 420 $\mu $K, a longitudinal temperature of 1 mK, and a flux of 3 x 10$^{7}$ atoms s$^{-1}$. This setup is currently being used to study the dynamics of Rydberg atoms and cold plasmas in extreme magnetic field configurations. In the present poster, we summarize results obtained in this guide. We have begun constructing an improved guide setup that enables a larger and colder atomic flux by addressing key problems associated with the continuous flow of cold atoms, such as atom heating during injection into the guide and atom losses due to laser-cooling stray light along the guide. In the poster, we outline the methods employed in the new guide setup to eliminate these issues.