Transport of launched cold atoms with a laser guide and pulsed magnetic fields
arXiv:physics/0610027 · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/8/12/309
Abstract
We propose the novel combination of a laser guide and magnetic lens to transport a cold atomic cloud. We have modelled the loading and guiding of a launched cloud of cold atoms with the optical dipole force. We discuss the optimum strategy for loading typically 30% of the atoms from a MOT and guiding them vertically through 22cm. However, although the atoms are tightly confined transversely, thermal expansion in the propagation direction still results in a density loss of two orders of magnitude. By combining the laser guide with a single impulse from a magnetic lens we show one can actually increase the density of the guided atoms by a factor of 10.
18 pages 11 figures. To appear in New J. Phys. Original version modified to include referee's improvements