A Double Magneto-optical Trap of Li-7 Loaded by a sigma(-)-type Zeeman Slower

Abstract

We report the construction and characterization of a double magneto-optical trap (MOT) system for Li-7 loaded by a Zeeman slower. The Zeeman slower uses an increasing magnetic field with left-circularly polarized laser light to produce an atomic beam with velocity less than 100 m/s. The slow atoms are captured by the first MOT at a rate of 1.7 x 10(9) atoms/s and they are transferred to the second MOT through a small hole in a configuration of a low-velocity intense source. The loading rate of the second MOT is 5 x 10(6) atoms/s. The second MOT traps 5 x 10(7) atoms with a trap lifetime of 10 s.