Design, Development, and Alignment of a 2D Magneto-Optical Trap

Magneto-optical traps (MOTs) are essential to attain fast and efficient loading of atoms with reduced energies and temperatures. For ultracold atomic physics experiments, the MOT is at the heart of an apparatus, setting the stage for the first steps of cooling. In this work, we present a brief background on MOT physics and report on the progress of our lab at University of San Diego to produce a 2-dimensional MOT, starting with the laser system design, optics platform and coil design, and initial calibrations for the system.