Quantum Optics Laboratory

We have developed a continuous SrF radical beam for the loading of helium buffer gas cooling. The SrF molecules are efficiently generated by high-temperature chemical reaction of the solid precursor SrF(2) with boron in a graphite oven. The beam properties are characterized with laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic method. We obtain a molecular flux of up to 2.1 x 10(15) sr(-1) s(-1) at the detection region for all rotational states. The dependence of the flux on oven temperature suggests that even higher flux is possible if a higher temperature in the oven is achieved. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3262631]

We capture Rb-87 atoms from room-temperature background vapor with a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The temperature of the atoms in the MOT is 320 mu K as the result of Doppler cooling. We further employ polarization gradient cooling to lower atom temperature. The factors that can affect the performance of polarization gradient cooling have been systematically studied. An atom temperature of 75 mu K has been reached with the optimized conditions. Temperatures are measured by the release and recapture method and the time of flight method. Such cold atoms are ready for the evaporative cooling which will finally realize the Bose-Einstein condensation.