The Temperature of Optical Molasses for Two Different Atomic Angular Momenta
- 20 February 1993
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Europhysics Letters
- Vol. 21 (6) , 661-666
- https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/21/6/005
Abstract
We have measured the temperature of laser-cooled Rb atoms in optical molasses as a function of laser intensity and detuning. For both 85Rb and 87Rb, cooled on the F = 3 → F' = 4 and F = 2 → F' = 3 transitions, respectively, the temperatures are proportional to the ratio of laser power and detuning for a wide range of these parameters. We observe a small but significant difference between the two isotopes. We also show the results of three-dimensional semi-classical numerical calculations. Our results favor a model which includes atomic localization in optical standing waves.Keywords
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