Abstract
We have constructed a magneto-optical trap for chromium atoms. Using trapping light at 425 nm and two repumping lasers tuned to intercombination transitions, over atoms were trapped and average densities of over were obtained. Nonexponential loss of atoms is observed at high densities indicating inelastic collisions between trapped atoms. Over a range of trapping conditions, the density-dependent trap loss rate constant β is extracted from fluorescence decay curves and found to have values in the range of much larger than is observed in alkali-metal traps.
- Received 17 September 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.61.053407
©2000 American Physical Society