Low velocity intense rubidium beam source from a 3D magneto-optical trap

We present an experimental set-up for the production of a beam source of cold 87Rb atoms, which is formed from a trapped cold atomic cloud in a three-dimensional (3D) magneto-optical trap (MOT). Via a radiation pressure difference generated by a specially designed leak tunnel along one trapping laser beam, the atoms are pushed out continuously with low velocity and high flux. The beam was measured to have a mean velocity of 12m/s and a longitudinal velocity spread of about 3m/s under nominal experimental conditions, based on the fluorescence and the time of flight (TOF) technologies. And its flux can be tuned by adjusting the MOT parameters from 108 to 109 atoms/s. Especially the beam performance dependence on trapping laser detuning and power is experimentally studied.

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