An all-optical atom trap as a target for MOTRIMS-like collision experiments
Abstract
Momentum-resolved scattering experiments with laser-cooled atomic targets have been performed since almost two decades with MOTRIMS (Magneto-Optical Trap Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy) setups. Compared to experiments with gas-jet targets, MOTRIMS features significantly lower target temperatures allowing for an excellent recoil ion momentum resolution. However, the coincident and momentum-resolved detection of electrons was long rendered impossible due to incompatible magnetic field requirements. Here we report on a novel experimental approach which is based on an all-optical Li atom trap that -- in contrast to magneto-optical traps -- does not require magnetic field gradients in the trapping region. Atom temperatures of about 2 mK and number densities up to 10 cm make this trap ideally suited for momentum-resolved electron-ion coincidence experiments. The overall configuration of the new trap is very similar to conventional magneto-optical traps. It mainly requires small modifications of laser beam geometries and polarization which makes it easily implementable in other existing MOTRIMS experiments.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1712.01200,
title = {An all-optical atom trap as a target for MOTRIMS-like collision experiments},
author = {S. Sharma and B. P. Acharya and A. H. N. C. De Silva and N. W. Parris and B. J. Ramsey and K. L. Romans and A. Dorn and D. Fischer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1712.01200},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
submitted to Phys. Rev. A