Behavior of Pulsed and Continuous-Wave Optical Dipole Force Traps

POSTER

Abstract

To date, almost all far-off-resonance traps (FORT) for confining ultracold atoms have used continuous-wave (cw) laser light. Recently, in addition to studies of a cw FORT, we have been investigating the behavior of a pulsed FORT constructed using a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser with 100 picosecond pulses. Both FORTs are loaded from a rubidium magneto-optical trap (MOT). For cw and pulsed traps of equal average power, we will present a quantitative side-by-side comparison of the trap loading and holding dependence on such quantities as MOT intensity and detuning, MOT hyperfine repumper laser intensity, loading time, and FORT power. We have found that although the pulsed and cw traps behave similarly in most respects, there is a notable difference in dependence on MOT laser detuning during FORT loading. We will also present preliminary spectroscopic data of atoms confined in both the cw and pulsed FORTs. Finally, we will discuss progress on implementing the free electron laser (FEL) at Jefferson Lab to make an optical trap for atomic physics and cold chemistry applications with a well depth several orders of magnitude greater than achievable with a typical table-top laser. Supported in part by the National Science Foundation, Jefferson Laboratory, and Old Dominion University.

Authors

  • J. Deng

    US Naval Observatory, University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, College of William and Mary, US Army Research Office, Brimrose Corporation of America, Hampton University, Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, North Carolina State University and WebAssign, Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Department of Physics, University of West Virginia - Chemistry Dept., ORNL, Old Dominion University, University of West Virginia Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Rice University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Yale U, JINR, Dubna, Univ. Fed. do Rio de Janeiro, Vanderbilt Univ./JIHIR(ORNL)/Tsinghua Univ., NSCL(MSU), LLNL, LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ./LBNL/JIHIR(ORNL), Vanderbilt Univ., Jagellonian University, University of Bonn, North Carolina A{\&T} State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University and TUNL

  • J. Deng

    US Naval Observatory, University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, College of William and Mary, US Army Research Office, Brimrose Corporation of America, Hampton University, Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, North Carolina State University and WebAssign, Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Department of Physics, University of West Virginia - Chemistry Dept., ORNL, Old Dominion University, University of West Virginia Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Rice University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Yale U, JINR, Dubna, Univ. Fed. do Rio de Janeiro, Vanderbilt Univ./JIHIR(ORNL)/Tsinghua Univ., NSCL(MSU), LLNL, LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ./LBNL/JIHIR(ORNL), Vanderbilt Univ., Jagellonian University, University of Bonn, North Carolina A{\&T} State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University and TUNL

  • J. Deng

    US Naval Observatory, University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, College of William and Mary, US Army Research Office, Brimrose Corporation of America, Hampton University, Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, North Carolina State University and WebAssign, Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Department of Physics, University of West Virginia - Chemistry Dept., ORNL, Old Dominion University, University of West Virginia Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Rice University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Yale U, JINR, Dubna, Univ. Fed. do Rio de Janeiro, Vanderbilt Univ./JIHIR(ORNL)/Tsinghua Univ., NSCL(MSU), LLNL, LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ./LBNL/JIHIR(ORNL), Vanderbilt Univ., Jagellonian University, University of Bonn, North Carolina A{\&T} State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University and TUNL

  • J. Deng

    US Naval Observatory, University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, College of William and Mary, US Army Research Office, Brimrose Corporation of America, Hampton University, Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, North Carolina State University and WebAssign, Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Department of Physics, University of West Virginia - Chemistry Dept., ORNL, Old Dominion University, University of West Virginia Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Rice University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Yale U, JINR, Dubna, Univ. Fed. do Rio de Janeiro, Vanderbilt Univ./JIHIR(ORNL)/Tsinghua Univ., NSCL(MSU), LLNL, LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ./LBNL/JIHIR(ORNL), Vanderbilt Univ., Jagellonian University, University of Bonn, North Carolina A{\&T} State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University and TUNL

  • J. Deng

    US Naval Observatory, University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, College of William and Mary, US Army Research Office, Brimrose Corporation of America, Hampton University, Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, North Carolina State University and WebAssign, Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Department of Physics, University of West Virginia - Chemistry Dept., ORNL, Old Dominion University, University of West Virginia Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Rice University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Yale U, JINR, Dubna, Univ. Fed. do Rio de Janeiro, Vanderbilt Univ./JIHIR(ORNL)/Tsinghua Univ., NSCL(MSU), LLNL, LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ./LBNL/JIHIR(ORNL), Vanderbilt Univ., Jagellonian University, University of Bonn, North Carolina A{\&T} State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University and TUNL

  • J. Deng

    US Naval Observatory, University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, College of William and Mary, US Army Research Office, Brimrose Corporation of America, Hampton University, Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, North Carolina State University and WebAssign, Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Department of Physics, University of West Virginia - Chemistry Dept., ORNL, Old Dominion University, University of West Virginia Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Rice University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Yale U, JINR, Dubna, Univ. Fed. do Rio de Janeiro, Vanderbilt Univ./JIHIR(ORNL)/Tsinghua Univ., NSCL(MSU), LLNL, LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ./LBNL/JIHIR(ORNL), Vanderbilt Univ., Jagellonian University, University of Bonn, North Carolina A{\&T} State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University and TUNL