The Temperature of Optical Molasses for Two Different Atomic Angular Momenta

C. Gerz,¹ T. W. Hodapp,¹ P. Jessen,¹ K. M. Jones,¹ W. D. Phillips,¹ C. I. Westbrook,¹ and K. Mølmer²

1. National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce,
Technology Administration – PHYS A167, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
2. Max Planck Institut für Quantenoptik – Garching, Germany
 

We have measured the temperature of laser-cooled Rb atoms in optical molasses as a function of laser intensity and detuning. For both @’Rb and s7Rb, cooled on the F = 3 + F’ = 4 and F = 2 + F ‘ = 3 transitions, respectively, the temperatures are proportional to the ratio of laser power and detuning for a wide range of these parameters. We observe a small but significant difference between the two isotopes. We also show the results of three-dimensional semi-classical numerical calculations. Our results favor a model which includes atomic localization in optical standing waves.
 

Back | Full Text