Abstract
We report a new cooling scheme used to actively collimate an atomic beam of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ with one-dimensional optical molasses. The atoms' transverse velocity is damped by a standing wave of circularly polarized light in a magnetic field of \ensuremath{\sim}20 \ensuremath{\mu}T to 2 cm/s (rms), well below the Doppler velocity ${v}_{D}$=(7\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\gamma}/20M${)}^{1/2}$\ensuremath{\sim}10 cm/s for one-dimensional optical molasses. The minimum measured velocity is limited only by the experimental geometry. We have developed a model in which the mixing by the field and optical pumping combine to form a cycle that cools below the Doppler limit, in agreement with our measurements.
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