Abstract

We present an improvement of our previously proposed optical Maxwell demon¹ that captures and cools Na atoms in a gas cell. The intersection of three pairs of orthogonal counterpropagating light beams tuned below resonance provides strong viscous forces on atoms.² In a vapor cell, it is the ability of atoms to enter this intersection from the outside that allows our demon to collect a high density of cold atoms. The original scheme suffers a reduced collection rate because the 3-D damping region is largely surrounded by a region of 1-D damping produced by only a single pair of beams. This deficiency can be removed by several methods, one of which involves optical pumping. Sodium requires two frequencies to prevent optical pumping and maintain the damping force. If two pairs of beams contain one frequency and the third pair contains the other frequency, the effect of the 1-D damping is reduced while the region of 3-D damping is largely unaffected. Thus, an atom can enter the intersection undeflected by a region containing only a single pair of beams. We present computer analysis and experimental progress.

© 1986 Optical Society of America