Year: 1985
Type: article
Abstract: We report the viscous confinement and cooling of neutral sodium atoms in three dimensions via the radiation pressure of counterpropagating laser beams. These atoms have a density of about \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ and a temperature of \ensuremath{\sim}240 \ensuremath{\mu}K corresponding to a rms velocity of \ensuremath{\sim}60 cm/sec. This temperature is approximately the quantum limit for this atomic transition. The decay time for half the atoms to escape a \ensuremath{\sim}0.2${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ confinement volume is \ensuremath{\sim}0.1 sec.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Institution: AT&T (United States)
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2003398166