Laserless slow atom source for loading atom traps

Permanent magnets are used to selectively remove the fast atoms from an atomic beam and to guide the remaining slow atoms into a trapping region. The permanent magnets establish a quadrupole field which extends along the axis of a bent vacuum nipple. A threshold velocity is set by the radius of curvature of the bent nipple and the strength of the magnets. Only those atoms which are slower than the threshold are transmitted to the trapping region. For a 30 cm radius of curvature and a Maxwellian velocity distribution at the atomic beam source, a flux of 10$\sp9$ atoms/s is expected to be delivered to the trapping region. Experimentally, a flux of only 10$\sp6$ atoms/s is observed. The flux deficit is attributed to an attenuation of slow atoms resulting from collisions within the nozzle of the recirculating oven which is used to produce the atomic beam.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Sciences

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Gerton, Jordan Mitchell

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hulet, Randall G.

• Atomic physics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17170

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17170