Injection of a cold atomic beam into a magnetic guide

Abstract

We report the continuous or pulsed loading of a slow and cold atomic beam into a magnetic guide. In order to optimize the transfer into the guide, we have studied two coupling schemes. The first one is based on an auxiliary two-dimensional MOT that confines the atoms transversally before they enter the guide. However, for low atomic velocities, the atoms are strongly heated in the longitudinal direction. This limitation does not occur in the second coupling scheme which relies on magnetic confinement in the transfer zone. For this purpose, we have constructed a miniature magnetic guide located between the atomic source and the long magnetic guide. The latter scheme allows to inject atoms with velocities down to 70 cm/s into the guide.