Mainz 1997 – scientific programme

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Q: Quantenoptik

Q 19: Poster Ia: Fallen und Kühlung

Q 19.4: Poster

Tuesday, March 4, 1997, 16:00–18:00, Phil. Fak.

Loading atoms into a surface trap: simulations of an experimental scheme — •W. Power, U. Janicke, T. Pfau, and M. Wilkens — Fakultät f"ur Physik, Universität Konstanz, Postfach 5560, 78434 Konstanz

We present simulations of a scheme for the continuous loading of pre-cooled atoms into the lowest energy states of a surface trap. The atoms are released from a MOT so that they fall under gravity towards the surface of a prism. Just above the surface they are decelerated by the optical potential of an evanescent wave, and they are pumped into a trapped state by a second evanescent wave. The pumped atoms are trapped by the optical potential of a two-dimensional standing wave which is produced by the reflection of a third light field from the top surface of the prism. The simulations are performed using the Monte-Carlo wavepacket technique. The probabilities of atoms being pumped into the different trapped states has been calculated as a function of the properties of the braking and pumping fields, and from this the optimum experimental parameters can be found. The temperature of the final distribution of the atoms is also calculated and using this we find the change in phase-space density.