Demonstration of a simple and compact ytterbium magneto-optical trap
Atomic Physics
2025-08-25 v1
Abstract
We present a low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP), low-complexity, ytterbium magneto-optical trap (MOT). We demonstrate trapping of Yb atoms on the transition directly from a hot thermal beam. We explore the effect of trap detuning and oven temperature on trap number, density, loading rate and sample temperature. The low SWaP and low-complexity design presents a realistic pathway towards portable ytterbium MOTs, allowing cold atom ytterbium systems to escape the confines of the laboratory and perform precision measurements in field environments.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2508.16145,
title = {Demonstration of a simple and compact ytterbium magneto-optical trap},
author = {Benjamin White and Rachel F. Offer and Ashby P. Hilton and Elizaveta Klantsataya and Christopher J. Billington and Nicolas Bourbeau Hébert and Montanna Nelligan and Andre N. Luiten},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.16145},
year = {2025}
}