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arXiv · 0905.2897

Single-laser, one beam, tetrahedral magneto-optical trap

Matthieu Vangeleyn·Paul F. Griffin·Erling Riis·Aidan S. Arnold
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Abstract

We have realised a 4-beam pyramidal magneto-optical trap ideally suited for future microfabrication. Three mirrors split and steer a single incoming beam into a tripod of reflected beams, allowing trapping in the four-beam overlap volume. We discuss the influence of mirror angle on cooling and trapping, finding optimum efficiency in a tetrahedral configuration. We demonstrate the technique using an ex-vacuo mirror system to illustrate the previously inaccessible supra-plane pyramid MOT configuration. Unlike standard pyramidal MOTs both the pyramid apex and its mirror angle are non-critical and our MOT offers improved molasses free from atomic shadows in the laser beams. The MOT scheme naturally extends to a 2-beam refractive version with high optical access. For quantum gas experiments, the mirror system could also be used for a stable 3D tetrahedral optical lattice.

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Matthieu Vangeleyn, Paul F. Griffin, Erling Riis, Aidan S. Arnold. 2009-05-18. Single-laser, one beam, tetrahedral magneto-optical trap. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.17.013601

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