2D array of surface optical micro-traps by evanescent wave interference

Abstract

We propose a novel scheme to form a 2D surface array of optical micro-traps of cold atoms by using two sets of far red-detuned evanescent wave interference and a blue-detuned evanescent wave. The optical potentials of the 2D surface array of optical micro-traps are high enough to trap cold atoms released from the standard magneto-optical trap，and 87Rb atoms trapped in the array of optical micro-traps can be cooled to 2.56μK with efficient intensity-gradient Sisyphus cooling. Our study shows that the proposed 2D surface array of optical micro-traps can be used in atomic physics，atomic optics, quantum optics and so on.