基于磁悬浮大体积交叉光学偶极阱的Dimple光阱装载研究

三维拉曼边带冷却后的铯原子样品装载于一个磁悬浮的大体积交叉光学偶极阱中, 继续加载一个小体积的光学偶极阱后, 实现了Dimple光学偶极阱对铯原子的高效装载. 对不同磁场下磁悬浮大体积光阱的有效装载势能进行理论分析与实验测量, 得出最优化的梯度磁场和均匀偏置磁场, 获得了基于磁悬浮大体积光阱的Dimple光学偶极阱的装载势能曲线, 实现了Dimple光学偶极阱对经拉曼边带冷却后俘获在磁悬浮的大体积光阱中的铯原子样品的有效装载. 比较了Dimple光学偶极阱分别从拉曼边带冷却、大体积的交叉光阱和消除反俘获势后的磁悬浮大体积光阱装载的结果, 将俘获在磁悬浮大体积光阱中的铯原子样品装载到Dimple光学偶极阱, 铯原子样品的密度提高了约15倍.     

Bose-Einstein condensation of 87Rb in a levitated crossed dipole trap

We report an apparatus and method capable of producing Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of ～1 × 10^{6 87}Rb atoms, and ultimately designed for sympathetic cooling of ¹³³Cs and the creation of ultracold RbCs molecules. The method combines several elements: (i) the large recapture of a magnetic quadrupole trap from a magneto-optical trap; (ii) efficient forced RF evaporation in such a magnetic trap; (iii) the gain in phase-space density obtained when loading the magnetically trapped atoms into a far red-detuned optical dipole trap, and (iv) efficient evaporation to BEC within the dipole trap. We demonstrate that the system is capable of sympathetically cooling the |F = 1, m _F = ?1〉 and |1,0? sublevels with |1, +1〉 atoms. Finally we discuss the applicability of the method to sympathetic cooling of ¹³³Cs with ⁸⁷Rb.     

Excessive levitation for the efficient loading of large-volume optical dipole traps

We study the excessive levitation effect in the magnetically levitated loading process of ultracold Cs atoms into a large-volume crossed optical dipole trap. We analyze the motion of atoms with a non-zero combined gravito-magnetic force during the loading, where the magnetically levitated force catches up with and surpasses the gravity. We present the theoretical variations of both acceleration and velocity with levitation time and magnetic field gradient. We measure the evolution of the number of trapped atoms with the excessive levitation time at different magnetic field gradients. The dependence of the number of atoms on the magnetic field gradient is also measured for different excessive levitation times.The theoretical analysis shows reasonable agreement with the experimental results. Our investigation illustrates that the excessive levitation can be used to reduce the heating effect of atoms in the magnetically levitated loading process, and to improve the loading rate of a large-volume optical dipole trap.     

Atomic micromotion and geometric forces in a triaxial magnetic trap

Nonadiabatic motion of Bose-Einstein condensates of rubidium atoms arising from the dynamical nature of a time-orbiting-potential (TOP) trap was observed experimentally. The orbital micromotion of the condensate in velocity space at the frequency of the rotating bias field of the TOP was detected by a time-of-flight method. A dependence of the equilibrium position of the atoms on the sense of rotation of the bias field was observed. We have compared our experimental findings with numerical simulations. The nonadiabatic following of the atomic spin in the trap rotating magnetic field produces geometric forces acting on the trapped atoms.     

Accumulation of cold cesium molecules via photoassociation in a mixed atomic and molecular trap

We have realized a mixed atomic and molecular trap, constituted by a Cs vapor-cell magneto-optical trap and a quadrupolar magnetic C s(2) trap, using the same magnetic field gradient. We observed the trapping of 2x 10(5) molecules, formed and accumulated in the metastable a (3)Sigma(+ )(u) state at a temperature of 30+/-10 microK through a approximately 150 ms photoassociation process. The lifetime of the trapped molecular cloud limited by the Cs background gas pressure is on the order of 1 s.     

全光学冷却与囚禁133Cs原子玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚的可能性

综述了近年来有关蒸发冷却¹³³Cs原子样品的实验进展,分析了磁囚禁¹³³Cs原子玻色爱因斯坦凝聚(BEC)的困难,并在此基础上提出了一个全光型冷却与囚禁¹³³Cs原子BEC的新方案.该方案主要由一个来自半导体激光(λ=0852μm)的倒金字塔形中空光束重力光学囚禁(pyramidal-hollow-beam gravito-optical trap,缩写为PHB GOT)和一个来自Ar⁺激光(λ=05013μm)的圆锥形中空光束重力光学囚禁(conical-hollow-beam gravito-optical trap,缩写为CHB GOT)组成.在PHB GOT中,冷原子经历了一个有效的中空光束感应的Sisyphus冷却(也即强度梯度冷却)和抽运光感应的几何冷却,原子温度将被从磁光囚禁(MOT)温度(约为60μK)冷却至几个光子反冲极限(约为2μK);而在Ar⁺中空光束囚禁(CHB GOT)中,冷原子将被Raman冷却或速度选择相干粒子数囚禁技术(velocity-selection coherent population trap,缩写为VSCPT)进一步冷却至光子反冲极限以下,并被激光频率高于原子共振频率的(也即蓝失谐的)covering光束压缩.我们就PHB冷却的动力学过程进行了Monte-Carlo模拟,并计算了Ar⁺中空光束囚禁¹³³Cs原子的光学势.研究结果表明,实现一个全光学冷却与囚禁的¹³³Cs原子BEC是可能的 关键词： 倒金字塔型中空光束重力光学囚禁 强度梯度冷却 氩离子中空光束囚禁 喇曼冷却 铯原子BEC     

Magnetic trapping of long-lived cold Rydberg atoms

We report on the trapping of long-lived strongly magnetized Rydberg atoms. 85Rb atoms are laser cooled and collected in a superconducting magnetic trap with a strong bias field (2.9 T) and laser excited to Rydberg states. Collisions scatter a small fraction of the Rydberg atoms into long-lived high-angular momentum "guiding-center" Rydberg states, which are magnetically trapped. The Rydberg atomic cloud is examined using a time-delayed, position-sensitive probe. We observe magnetic trapping of these Rydberg atoms for times up to 200 ms. Oscillations of the Rydberg-atom cloud in the trap reveal an average magnetic moment of the trapped Rydberg atoms of approximately -8microB. These results provide guidance for other Rydberg-atom trapping schemes and illuminate a possible route for trapping antihydrogen.     

磁光阱中超冷钠-铯原子碰撞的实验研究

研究了磁光阱中异核超冷钠铯原子的碰撞机理, 测量了超冷钠原子的碰撞损失率, 得到了钠-铯原子的碰撞损失系数β_Na-Cs与钠原子俘获光强度之间的关系. 利用多普勒模型计算了不同俘获光强度下的钠原子磁光阱的阱深, 得到了临界光强的理论值, 与实验结果符合得较好.     

Laser cooling of thulium atoms

We demonstrated laser cooling and trapping of thulium atoms at sub-Doppler temperatures in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Up to 3 × 10⁶ thulium atoms were trapped in the MOT at temperatures down to 25(5) μK which is approximately 10 times lower than the Doppler limit. The lifetime of atoms in the MOT varied between 0.3–1.5 s and was restricted mostly by optical leaks from the upper cooling level. The lower limit for the leaking rate was estimated to be 22(6) s⁻¹. Due to a big magnetic moment of Tm atoms, a part of them were trapped in a magnetic trap from the quadrupole field of the MOT. We observed about 3 × 10⁴ purely magnetically trapped atoms at temperature of 25 μK with a lifetime in the trap of 0.5 s. Also we set up a “dark” MOT consisting of six crossed hollow beams which increased the number of trapped atoms by a factor of 5 leading to 1.5 × 10⁷ atoms at the expense of higher temperature.     

Meissner effect in superconducting microtraps

We report on the realization and characterization of a magnetic microtrap for ultracold atoms near a straight superconducting Nb wire with circular cross section. The trapped atoms are used to probe the magnetic field outside the superconducting wire. The Meissner effect shortens the distance between the trap and the wire, reduces the radial magnetic-field gradients, and lowers the trap depth. Measurements of the trap position reveal a complete exclusion of the magnetic field from the superconducting wire for temperatures lower than 6 K. As the temperature is further increased, the magnetic field partially penetrates the superconducting wire; hence the microtrap position is shifted towards the position expected for a normal-conducting wire.     

Experimental investigation of ultracold atom-molecule collisions

Ultracold collisions between Cs atoms and Cs2 dimers in the electronic ground state are observed in an optically trapped gas of atoms and molecules. The Cs2 molecules are formed in the triplet ground state by cw photoassociation through the outer well of the 0-(g) (P3/2) excited electronic state. Inelastic atom-molecule collisions converting internal excitation into kinetic energy lead to a loss of Cs2 molecules from the dipole trap. Rate coefficients are determined for collisions involving Cs atoms in either the F=3 or F=4 hyperfine ground state, and Cs2 molecules in either highly vibrationally excited states (nu'=32-47) or in low vibrational states (nu'=4-6) of the a3 summation(u)+ triplet ground state. The rate coefficients beta approximately 10(-10) cm3/s are found to be largely independent of the vibrational and rotational excitation indicating unitary limited cross sections.     

Trapping and focusing ground state atoms with static fields

Possibilities of trapping ground state atoms in static fields are studied. It is shown that it is impossible to trap ground state particles at rest using arbitrary combinations of electric, magnetic, and gravitational fields, a result which is a considerable generalization of Wing's theorem. Similarly, it is impossible to make a thin lens for ground state atoms using static fields. Confinement of ground state particles in dynamic equilibrium can be achieved. Axially symmetric storage rings with electric or magnetic fields are possible and should be experimentally feasible. Such storage rings have the important advantage that ground state particles can be confined, hence loss of atoms by two-body collisions is avoided.     

Trapping of neutral rubidium with a macroscopic three-phase electric trap

We trap neutral ground-state rubidium atoms in a macroscopic trap based on purely electric fields. For this, three electrostatic field configurations are alternated in a periodic manner. The rubidium is precooled in a magneto-optical trap, transferred into a magnetic trap, and then translated into the electric trap. The electric trap consists of six rod-shaped electrodes in cubic arrangement, giving ample optical access. Up to 10;{5} atoms have been trapped with an initial temperature of around 20 microkelvin in the three-phase electric trap. The observations are in good agreement with detailed numerical simulations.     

Narrow-line magneto-optical cooling and trapping of strongly magnetic atoms

Laser cooling on weak transitions is a useful technique for reaching ultracold temperatures in atoms with multiple valence electrons. However, for strongly magnetic atoms a conventional narrow-line magneto-optical trap (MOT) is destabilized by competition between optical and magnetic forces. We overcome this difficulty in Er by developing an unusual narrow-line MOT that balances optical and magnetic forces using laser light tuned to the blue side of a narrow (8 kHz) transition. The trap population is spin polarized with temperatures reaching below 2 muK. Our results constitute an alternative method for laser cooling on weak transitions, applicable to rare-earth-metal and metastable alkaline earth elements.     

Alternative method for reconstruction of antihydrogen annihilation vertices

The ALPHA experiment, located at CERN, aims to compare the properties of antihydrogen atoms with those of hydrogen atoms. The neutral antihydrogen atoms are trapped using an octupole magnetic trap. The trap region is surrounded by a three layered silicon detector used to reconstruct the antiproton annihilation vertices. This paper describes a method we have devised that can be used for reconstructing annihilation vertices with a good resolution and is more efficient than the standard method currently used for the same purpose.     

Trapping and manipulating neutral atoms with electrostatic fields

We report on experiments with cold thermal (7)Li atoms confined in combined magnetic and electric potentials. A novel type of three-dimensional trap was formed by modulating a magnetic guide using electrostatic fields. We observed atoms trapped in a string of up to six individual such traps, a controlled transport of an atomic cloud over a distance of 400 microm, and a dynamic splitting of a single trap into a double well potential. Applications for quantum information processing are discussed.     

~(87)Rb玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体的快速实验制备

采用二维磁光阱产生了-个快速~(87)Rb原子流,并在高真空的三维磁光阱中实现了~(87)Rb原子的快速俘获,进一步采用射频蒸发冷却技术实现了原子云的预冷却,然后将原子转移到远失谐的光学偶极阱中蒸发得到了玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体.实验上可以在25 s内完成三维磁光阱的装载(约1.0×10~(10)个~(87)Rb原子),然后经过16 s的冷却过程最终在光学偶极阱中获得5.0×10~5个原子的玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体.实验重点研究了二维磁光阱的优化设计和采用蓝失谐大功率光束对四极磁阱零点的堵塞,抑制四极磁阱中原子的马约拉纳损耗,更加有效地对原子云进行预冷却.     

Miniaturized magnetic guide for neutral atoms

We describe the principle and realization of a miniaturized magnetic guide for neutral atoms. The magnetic guide in our experiment is formed by a micrometer-sized current-carrying wire which is attached to a second, thick wire. The conductors are electrically insulated from each other. The combined magnetic field of both conductors provides an approximately linear trapping potential which establishes a magnetic guide along the surface of the thin wire. The miniaturized waveguide is filled with rubidium atoms from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) by first loading the atoms into a spherical magnetic quadrupole trap which is subsequently transformed into the linear potential of the waveguide. As thermal source for Rb atoms we use an alkali metal dispenser which is located close to the center of the MOT. This novel method is compatible with ultrahigh vacuum conditions and we achieved lifetimes of the magnetically trapped atoms up to 100 s. Received: 18 October 1999 / Published online: 24 March 2000     

Manipulation of ultracold atomic mixtures using microwave techniques

We used microwave radiation to evaporatively cool a mixture of of ¹³³Cs and ⁸⁷Rb atoms in a magnetic trap. A mixture composed of an equal number (around 10⁴) of Rb and Cs atoms in their doubly polarized states at ultracold temperatures was prepared. We also used microwaves to selectively evaporate atoms in different Zeeman states.     

Cooling by spontaneous decay of highly excited antihydrogen atoms in magnetic traps

An efficient cooling mechanism of magnetically trapped, highly excited antihydrogen (H) atoms is presented. This cooling, in addition to the expected evaporative cooling, results in trapping of a large number of H atoms in the ground state. It is found that the final fraction of trapped atoms is insensitive to the initial distribution of H magnetic quantum numbers. Expressions are derived for the cooling efficiency, demonstrating that magnetic quadrupole (cusp) traps provide stronger cooling than higher order magnetic multipoles. The final temperature of H confined in a cusp trap is shown to depend as approximately 2.2T(n0)n(0)(-2/3) on the initial Rydberg level n0 and temperature T(n0).