Off-the-shelf Atom Trapping

ORAL

Abstract

We present results from a new commercial system available for cooling and trapping rubidium atoms in a Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT). The compact miniMOT system offered by Cold Quanta, Inc. consists of an ion pump, evacuated pyrex cell, and a rubidium source. The MOT system eliminates the need for ultra-high vacuum apparatus and expertise making it appropriate for undergraduate teaching and research labs. Our MOT has been implemented and maintained by student researchers. Using standard optical components, we have utilized three common trap geometries with this system: a standard spherical 6-beam MOT, a spherical mirror-MOT, and an anisotropic mirror-MOT. We present results of trap characterization and cold-atom spectroscopy in these configurations and discuss possible undergraduate teaching lab activities.

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Authors

  • A.N. Behkami

    Kent State University, Reed College, Western Washington University, Washington State University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, Whitman College, SciPrint.org, STScI, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Chemistry Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; Institut fuer Physik, Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany, Centre College, Islamic Azad University, Department of Physics, Fars Science and Research Center

  • A.N. Behkami

    Kent State University, Reed College, Western Washington University, Washington State University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, Whitman College, SciPrint.org, STScI, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Chemistry Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; Institut fuer Physik, Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany, Centre College, Islamic Azad University, Department of Physics, Fars Science and Research Center

  • A.N. Behkami

    Kent State University, Reed College, Western Washington University, Washington State University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, Whitman College, SciPrint.org, STScI, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Chemistry Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, Physics Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717; Institut fuer Physik, Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany, Centre College, Islamic Azad University, Department of Physics, Fars Science and Research Center

  • Andrew Dawes

    Pacific University