A 3D-printed alkali metal dispenser

Abstract

We demonstrate and characterize a source of Li atoms made from direct metal laser sintered titanium. The source's outgassing rate is measured to be $5(2)\cdot 10^{-7}$\,$\mathrm{Pa}\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$ at a temperature $T=330{}^{\circ }$C, which optimizes the number of atoms loaded into a magneto-optical trap. The source loads $\approx 10^7$ ${}^7$Li atoms in the trap in $\approx 1$\,s. The loaded source weighs 700\,mg and is suitable for a number of deployable sensors based on cold atoms.

3 pages, 3 figures