Super-molasses returns: All optical near-resonance laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms from background vapor
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Abstract
Laser cooled and trapped atoms have been the workhorse of atomic physics for the past four decades. The predominant method has been the highly versatile Magneto-Optical Trap. We describe an alternative laser trap involving a simple geometry of collimated laser beams that provides both a velocity and position dependent restoring force such that a dense cloud of cold atoms is formed. This technique produces similar atom number ($>10^6$) and density ($10^{10}$\,atoms/cm$^{3}$) to the Magneto-Optical Trap, albeit with \emph{no magnetic field}. The beam geometry is compatible with conventional sub-Doppler cooling techniques, allowing the trapped cloud to be cooled to $< 10~μ$K. We demonstrate the validity and robustness of the trap by capturing $^{87}$Rb atoms directly from the background vapor and provide a theoretical discussion of the underlying principles. This trap has many unique properties that make it highly suitable for quantum sensing, timing, and computing applications as well as a new tool in fundamental science and metrology.