Measurement of Excited State Fraction in a MOT versus Laser Detuning

POSTER

Abstract

A reliable model-independent, semi-empirical method for determining the excited state fraction in a magneto-optical trap is demonstrated. This method does not rely on fluorescence; the excited state fraction is measured directly using Magneto-Optical Trap Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy (MOTRIMS). The MOTRIMS technique uses an ion beam as a probe of the internal states of the trapped atoms, and the excited-state fraction emerges directly from this ``$Q$-value'' measurement. Experimental results are compared with theoretical models.

Authors

  • M.A. Gearba

    • U. Southern Mississippi
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406

  • H.A. Camp

  • M.H. Shah

  • M.L. Trachy

  • H. Nguyen

  • B.D. DePaola

    • Department of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506

  • R. Bredy

    • Laboratoire de Spectrometrie Ionique et Moleculaire (LASIM) URM CNRS 5579 Universite Claude Bernard Lyon1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France

  • X. Flechard

    • LPC CAEN, BCD du Marechal Juin, 14050 CAEN CEDEX, France