Isotropic Light vs Six-Beam Molasses for Doppler Cooling of Atoms From Background Vapor -Theoretical Comparison

Stéphane Trémine (1) , Emeric de Clercq (1) , Philippe Verkerk (2)

1 LNE - SYRTE - Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace
2 PhLAM - Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules - UMR 8523

We present a 3D theoretical comparison between the radiation-pressure forces exerted on an atom in an isotropic light cooling scheme and in a six-beam molasses. We demonstrate that, in the case of a background vapor where all the space directions of the atomic motion have to be considered, the mean cooling rate is equal in both configurations. Nevertheless, we also point out what mainly differentiates the two cooling techniques: the force component orthogonal to the atomic motion. If this transverse force is always null in the isotropic light case, it can exceed the radiation-pressure-force longitudinal component in the six-beam molasses configuration for high atomic velocities, hence reducing the velocity capture range.

Mots clés: Isotropic Light; Six-Beam Molasses; Laser Cooling; Doppler Cooling

Domaines: Physique Atomique [physics.atom-ph]; Physique Quantique [quant-ph]

Stéphane Trémine, Emeric de Clercq, Philippe Verkerk. Isotropic Light vs Six-Beam Molasses for Doppler Cooling of Atoms From Background Vapor -Theoretical Comparison. 2017. ⟨hal-01527082⟩