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Double-impulse magnetic focusing of launched cold atoms

Aidan S Arnold·Matthew J Pritchard·David A Smith·Ifan G Hughes
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Abstract

We have theoretically investigated 3D focusing of a launched cloud of cold atoms using a pair of magnetic lens pulses (the alternate-gradient method). Individual lenses focus radially and defocus axially or vice-versa. The performance of the two possible pulse sequences are compared and found to be ideal for loading both 'pancake' and 'sausage' shaped magnetic/optical microtraps. It is shown that focusing aberrations are considerably smaller for double-impulse magnetic lenses compared to single-impulse magnetic lenses. An analysis of the clouds focused by double-impulse technique is presented.

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Aidan S Arnold, Matthew J Pritchard, David A Smith, Ifan G Hughes. 2006-03-22. Double-impulse magnetic focusing of launched cold atoms. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2F8%2F4%2F053

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