Abstract
We have realized a scheme for continuous loading of a magnetic trap (MT). atoms are continuously captured and cooled in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Optical pumping to a metastable state decouples atoms from the cooling light. Due to their high magnetic moment low-field seeking metastable atoms are trapped in the magnetic quadrupole field provided by the MOT. Limited by inelastic collisions between atoms in the MOT and in the MT, we load metastable atoms at a rate of atoms/s below into the MT. Optical repumping after the loading allows us to realize a MT of ground-state chromium atoms.
- Received 30 October 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.64.031405
©2001 American Physical Society