Abstract
We present a high-flux source of cold ytterbium atoms that is robust, lightweight and low-maintenance. Our apparatus delivers 1 × 109 atoms s−1 into a 3D magneto-optical trap without requiring water cooling or high current power supplies. We achieve this by employing a Zeeman slower and a 2D magneto-optical trap fully based on permanent magnets in Halbach configurations. This strategy minimizes mechanical complexity, stray magnetic fields, and heat production while requiring little to no maintenance, making it applicable to both embedded systems that seek to minimize electrical power consumption, and large scale experiments to reduce the complexity of their subsystems.
Highlights
Neutral cold atoms are a versatile resource for many domains of modern physics
They lie at the core of modern quantum engineering, realizing quantum simulators [1] and proposals for quantum computers [2]. They constitute a key element of state-of-the-art quantum metrology, producing the most stable frequency references [3], contributing to the determination of fundamental constants [4, 5], searching for new physics [6], and enabling inertial sensing with unprecented stability [7, 8]
Owing to increased robustness and compactness of cold-atoms technology [9,10,11,12], even very large scale experiments [13,14,15] and eminently challenging environments are accessible, including zero-g aircrafts [16], sounding rockets [17], and orbiting spacecrafts [18]. These developments are paving the way for long-term operation in space [19] and a new era for quantum metrology [20,21,22,23]
Summary
Neutral cold atoms are a versatile resource for many domains of modern physics. They lie at the core of modern quantum engineering, realizing quantum simulators [1] and proposals for quantum computers [2]. Alkaline-earth-like atoms have far lower vapor pressures compared to alkali atoms This requires hot ovens to obtain sufficient content in the gaseous phase to initiate laser cooling. The correspondingly large atomic velocities at the exit of the oven prompted the use of Zeeman slowers [33] or, more recently, 2D magnetooptical traps [34] to enable efficient loading into a threedimensional trap. In their conventional implementation, these techniques are power consuming and usually lead to bulky and heavy setups as they feature highpower electrical circuits which require water cooling and associated maintenance.
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