Abstract
We experimentally study the guiding of a low velocity intense source (LVIS) of cold atoms along co-propagating and oblique blue-detuned Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) light beams. For a co-propagating guide we observe a flux enhancement of 120% and we study the effect of guide beam detuning and power. For an oblique LG guide we find few atoms coupled into the guide from the LVIS and primarily observe deflection and recirculation of the LVIS atoms rather than guiding. The guided flux is enhanced by use of an imaged obstruction allowing LVIS atoms to enter the oblique guide more easily. A physical model is presented to account for our observations and highlights important considerations for developing cold atom optic elements based on blue-detuned hollow light beams.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 247-254 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Optics Communications |
| Volume | 214 |
| Issue number | 1-6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 Dec 15 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We acknowledge the help of F. Catoire and A. Goodsell with parts of the experiment. We thank the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Leverhulme Trust for supporting the work.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering