Abstract
We have trapped cesium atoms over many minutes in the focus of a -laser beam employing an extremely simple laser system. Collisional properties of the unpolarized atoms in their electronic ground state are investigated. Inelastic binary collisions changing the hyperfine state lead to trap loss, which is quantitatively analyzed. Elastic collisions result in evaporative cooling of the trapped gas from 25 to 10 over a time scale of about 150 s.
- Received 27 March 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.62.031402
©2000 American Physical Society