Abstract
We use a near-concentric optical cavity at 1064 nm to generate trapping potentials for cold atoms. The cavity exhibits nondegenerate Hermite-Gaussian modes. Using just a few-milliwatt trap laser power, the cavity readily generates one- and higher-dimensional optical traps that replicate the mode functions. We spectroscopically characterize the optical trapping potentials and laser-cooling limits under continuous loading conditions. We use absorption images to measure atom densities and to compare the spatial profiles of trapped-atom samples with calculated mode functions. Steady-state fluorescence images reveal bright radiation emerging from the ends of the elongated, cavity-trapped atom clouds, providing evidence for radiation guiding.
- Received 18 April 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.063409
©2014 American Physical Society