Atom trapping in deeply bound states of a far-off-resonance optical lattice

 

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D.L. Haycock, S.E. Hamann, G. Klose, and P.S. Jessen

Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
 

We form a one-dimensional optical lattice for Cs atoms using light detuned a few thousand linewidths below atomic resonance. Atoms are selectively loaded into deeply bound states by adiabatic transfer from a super-imposed, near-resonance optical lattice. This yields a mean vibrational excitation 0.3 and localization zl/20. Light scattering subsequently heats the atoms, but the initial rate is only of order 0.001 vibrational quanta per oscillation period. Low vibrational excitation, strong localization, and low heating rates make these atoms good candidates for resolved-sideband Raman cooling.
 

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Temperature and localization of atoms in three-dimensional optical lattices

 

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M. Gatzke, G. Birkl, P.S. Jessen, A. Kastberg, S.L. Rolston, and W.D. Phillips
 

We report temperature measurements of atoms trapped in a three-dimensional (3D) optical lattice, a well-defined laser-cooling situation that can be treated with currently available theoretical tools. We also obtain fluorescence spectra from a 3D optical lattice, from which we obtain quantitative information about the trapping atoms, including the oscillation frequencies, spatial localization, and a temperature, which is in good agreement with our direct measurements. For comparison we study a 1D lattice using the same atom (cesium).
 

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