Novel, Retroreflective, Magneto-Optical Trap Near a Surface

Abstract

We report on a novel Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) geometry involving the retroreflection of one of the six MOT beams in order to create an atom cloud close to the surface of a prism which does not have optical access along one axis. A MOT of Rb${}^{85}$ with $\sim 4\times 10^7$ atoms can be created 700 um from the surface. The MOT lies close to the minimum of an evanescent Gravito-Optical Surface Trap (GOST) allowing for transfer into the GOST with potentially minimal losses.

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