Abstract.
A method of imaging distributions of cold atoms under the presence of large trapping-field-induced level shifts is investigated. By utilizing a probe laser tuned to an open transition, the fluorescence yield per atom is largely fixed throughout the trap volume, independent of the trapping field. This enables a reliable conversion of fluorescence images into atomic-density profiles. The method is applied to measure distributions of 87Rb atoms in a high-gradient (2.7 kG/cm) magnetic atom guide. We characterize the parameters for which the open-channel imaging method performs best. Results of quantum Monte Carlo simulations verify the underlying assumptions of the method.
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Mhaskar, R., Olson, S. & Raithel, G. Open-channel fluorescence imaging of atoms in high-gradient magnetic fields. Eur. Phys. J. D 41, 221–227 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2006-00242-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2006-00242-8