Magneto-optical trap operating on a magnetically induced level-mixing effect

Year: 2001

Authors: Nasyrov K., Biancalana V., Burchianti A., Calabrese R., Marinelli C., Mariotti E., Moi L.

Autors Affiliation: Institute for Automation and Electrometry, Novosibirsk 630090, Russian Federation
INFM-UdR di Siena, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Siena, Via Banchi di Sotto, 53100 Siena, Italy
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Ferrara and INFN-Sezione di Ferrara, Via Paradiso 12, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

Abstract: In this work we point out a theoretical picture accounting for some unpredicted trapping conditions that have been observed—but not satisfactorily explained—in the past and have been recently confirmed by our experiments. We have realized a sodium magneto-optical trap working on the 3S1/2(F=1)→3P3/2(F′=0) transition that, according to the usually accepted model, should not work. Our results, with respect to the previous unexplained observations, support more stringent conclusions because our experimental setup gives us the possibility to repump atoms from the F=2 state using D1 transitions. This definitely excludes that the repumping frequency may play a role in the trap dynamics. A peculiar perturbation approach allows us to demonstrate that the confinement force originates, in this case, from a magnetically induced level-mixing effect. Moreover, we describe separately the nature of damping and confining forces and we recognize that in this case they are due to different transitions. Trap simulations based on a dynamical three-dimensional model are presented, which quantitatively reproduce our experimental results.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

Volume: 64      Pages from: 023412-1  to: 023412-9

KeyWords: Computer simulation; Dynamics; Electron traps; Magnetic fields; Magnetization; Magnetooptical effects; Mathematical models; Perturbation techniques; Phase transitions; Three dimensional, Level mixing effect; Magneto optical trap; Zeeman pumping, Atomic physics
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.64.023412

Citations: 10
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