Related papers: Super-molasses returns: All optical near-resonance laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms from background vapor

Super-molasses returns: All optical near-resonance laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms from background vapor

URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2607.04966v1
Date: Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:53:15 GMT
Title: Super-molasses returns: All optical near-resonance laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms from background vapor
Abstract summary: We describe an alternative laser trap involving a simple geometry of collimated laser beams.<n>This technique produces similar atom number and density ($1010$,atoms/cm$3$) to the Magneto-Optical Trap.<n>We demonstrate the validity and robustness of the trap by capturing $87$Rb atoms directly from the background vapor.
Score: 0.2087249115442504
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract: Laser cooled and trapped atoms have been the workhorse of atomic physics for the past four decades. The predominant method has been the highly versatile Magneto-Optical Trap. We describe an alternative laser trap involving a simple geometry of collimated laser beams that provides both a velocity and position dependent restoring force such that a dense cloud of cold atoms is formed. This technique produces similar atom number ($>10^6$) and density ($10^{10}$\,atoms/cm$^{3}$) to the Magneto-Optical Trap, albeit with \emph{no magnetic field}. The beam geometry is compatible with conventional sub-Doppler cooling techniques, allowing the trapped cloud to be cooled to $< 10~μ$K. We demonstrate the validity and robustness of the trap by capturing $^{87}$Rb atoms directly from the background vapor and provide a theoretical discussion of the underlying principles. This trap has many unique properties that make it highly suitable for quantum sensing, timing, and computing applications as well as a new tool in fundamental science and metrology.

Related papers

Cold-atom comagnetometry via optical control of spin states [1.1818498965987325]
We demonstrate a cold-atom comagnetometer based on the nuclear spins of $171$Yb (spin-1/2) and $173$Yb (spin-5/2), jointly trapped in an optical lattice.<n>We achieve a magnetic noise suppression factor exceeding $3times104$, and determine the ratio of nuclear magnetic moments to 4 ppm precision.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2026-08-14T04:17:34Z)
A robust and modular cesium magneto-optical trap using diverging laser beams [0.0]
Magneto-optical traps (MOTs) are workhorse technology for neutral-atom quantum sensing, simulation, and computing.<n>Here, we demonstrate a MOT optimized for inertial quantum sensing and precision metrology applications.<n>Our MOT traps $4times108$ cesium (Cs) atoms in a robust, modular system that achieves stable operation through two design features.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2026-07-14T18:00:05Z)
A Robust Strontium Tweezer Apparatus for Quantum Computing [27.829988205900055]
We demonstrate a versatile apparatus capable ofally loading a 5x5 array of optical tweezers with single $88$Sr atoms.<n>In the science chamber, featuring a vacuum pressure of $3 times 10-11$ mbar, the Sr is cooled using two laser cooling stages.<n> loaded atoms can be imaged with a fidelity of $sim 0.997$ and a survival probability of $0.99+0.01_0.02$.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2026-01-23T09:03:44Z)
Magneto-optical trapping of aluminum monofluoride [0.0]
We demonstrate a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of aluminum monofluoride (AlF)<n>The MOT operates on the strong A$1Pileftarrow$X$1Sigma+$ transition near 227.5nm.<n>Laser cooling and trapping of AlF is conceptually similar to the introduction of alkaline-earth atoms into cold atom physics.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-06-02T21:15:14Z)
Single-atom imaging of ${}^{173}$Yb in optical tweezers loaded by a five-beam magneto-optical trap [37.43981963592673]
We report on the trapping and imaging of individual ytterbium atoms in arrays of optical tweezers.<n>In our five-beam magneto-optical trap, gravity balances the radiation pressure of a single upward-directed beam.<n>We demonstrate the first single-atom-resolved imaging of the fermionic isotope, large-spin $173$Yb.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-05-12T09:14:02Z)
A Quantum Repeater Platform based on Single SiV$^-$ Centers in Diamond with Cavity-Assisted, All-Optical Spin Access and Fast Coherent Driving [45.82374977939355]
Quantum key distribution enables secure communication based on the principles of quantum mechanics. Quantum repeaters are required to establish large-scale quantum networks. We present an efficient spin-photon interface for quantum repeaters.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-10-28T14:33:24Z)
Quantum-limited millimeter wave to optical transduction [50.663540427505616]
Long distance transmission of quantum information is a central ingredient of distributed quantum information processors. Current approaches to transduction employ solid state links between electrical and optical domains. We demonstrate quantum-limited transduction of millimeter-wave (mmwave) photons into optical photons using cold $85$Rb atoms as the transducer.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-07-20T18:04:26Z)
Quantum density matrix theory for a laser without adiabatic elimination of the population inversion: transition to lasing in the class-B limit [62.997667081978825]
No class-B quantum density-matrix model is available to date, capable of accurately describing coherence and photon correlations within a unified theory. Here we carry out a density-matrix theoretical approach for generic class-B lasers, and provide closed equations for the photonic and atomic reduced density matrix in the Fock basis of photons. This model enables the study of few-photon bifurcations and non-classical photon correlations in class-B laser devices, also leveraging quantum descriptions of coherently coupled nanolaser arrays.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-05-26T16:33:51Z)
Rapid generation of all-optical $^{39}$K Bose-Einstein condensates using a low-field Feshbach resonance [58.720142291102135]
We investigate the production of all-optical $39$K Bose-Einstein condensates with different scattering lengths using a Feshbach resonance near $33$ G. We are able to produce fully condensed ensembles with $5.8times104$ atoms within $850$ ms evaporation time at a scattering length of $232. Based on our findings we describe routes towards high-flux sources of ultra-cold potassium for inertial sensing.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-01-12T16:39:32Z)
Hyperfine and quadrupole interactions for Dy isotopes in DyPc$_2$ molecules [77.57930329012771]
Nuclear spin levels play an important role in understanding magnetization dynamics and implementation and control of quantum bits in lanthanide-based single-molecule magnets. We investigate the hyperfine and nuclear quadrupole interactions for $161$Dy and $163$Dy nucleus in anionic DyPc$.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2020-02-12T18:25:31Z)
Force and acceleration sensing with optically levitated nanogram masses at microkelvin temperatures [57.72546394254112]
This paper demonstrates cooling of the center-of-mass motion of 10 $mu$m-diameter optically levitated silica spheres to an effective temperature of $50pm22 mu$K. It is shown that under these conditions the spheres remain stably trapped at pressures of $sim 10-7$ mbar with no active cooling for periods longer than a day.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2020-01-29T16:20:35Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.