CO(2) laser trap for cesium atoms.

We demonstrate a quasi-electrostatic trap for cold Cs atoms, using a focused 20-W CO(2) laser beam (lambda = 10.6 microm). Excluding background gas collisions, we measure a trap loss rate of 0.30(33) atoms/s, which is consistent with the calculated photon-limited loss rate of 3 x 10(-11) atoms/s. We measure a ground-state hyperfine population relaxation lifetime of at least 10 s.

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