Atom Chip and Diffraction Grating for the Laser Cooling of Ytterbium Atoms

Abstract

The possibility of using an atom chip and a diffraction grating to form a compact magneto-optical trap for ytterbium atoms, which can be used to develop compact atomic interferometers and optical clocks based on ultracold atoms, has been studied. An experiment on the laser cooling of the 171Yb and 174Yb isotopes in a first‑stage magneto-optical trap has been carried out to determine initial requirements for the mentioned elements. The design of the atom chip forming a magnetic field gradient up to 60 G/cm has been calculated. The optimal configurations of the diffraction grating that allow forming both the first- and second-stage magneto-optical traps have been evaluated.