Abstract

We demonstrate a novel way to form and deplete a vapor-cell magneto-optic trap (MOT) using a reversible, solid-state alkali-metal source via an applied polarized voltage. Using $\sim 100\mathrm{mW}$ of electrical power, a trapped-atom number of $5\times {10}^6$ has been achieved, starting from near zero and the timescales of the MOT formation and depletion of $\sim 1\mathrm{s}$. This fast, reversible, and low-power alkali-atom source is desirable in both tabletop and portable cold-atom systems. The core technology of this device should translate readily to other alkali and alkaline-earth elements that could find a wide range of uses in cold-atom systems and instruments.

© 2019 Optical Society of America

Active stabilization of alkali-atom vapor density with a solid-state electrochemical alkali-atom source

Songbai Kang, Russell P. Mott, Allison V. Mis, Christopher S. Roper, Elizabeth A. Donley, and John Kitching
Opt. Express 26(3) 3696-3701 (2018)

Multiply loaded magneto-optical trap

C. J. Myatt, N. R. Newbury, R. W. Ghrist, S. Loutzenhiser, and C. E. Wieman
Opt. Lett. 21(4) 290-292 (1996)

Multistage two-dimensional magneto-optical trap as a compact cold atom beam source

Jaime Ramirez-Serrano, Nan Yu, James M. Kohel, James R. Kellogg, and Lute Maleki
Opt. Lett. 31(6) 682-684 (2006)

Temporally modulated laser with an alkali vapor amplifier

He Cai, Qiang Yu, Guofei An, Jiao Yang, Rongyi Ji, Xiaoxu Liu, Juhong Han, Weihu Zhou, and You Wang
Opt. Lett. 44(7) 1778-1780 (2019)

Generation of coherent mid-IR light by parametric four-wave mixing in alkali vapor

Yoel Sebbag, Yefim Barash, and Uriel Levy
Opt. Lett. 44(4) 971-974 (2019)