Magnetostatic state-selective deflection of a beam of laser-cooled atoms

Abstract

We have demonstrated the transverse state-selective deflection of a beam of free-falling laser-cooled caesium 6 2 S 1 2 , F = 4 atoms by the inhomogeneous static magnetic field of a current-carrying wire. With currents of up to 45 A the positions of atoms in individual magnetic substates are clearly resolved and deflection angles as large as 25° are observed. By optically pumping the atoms toward the m F = 4 substate in the ground state, most of the atoms are deflected through the same angle. The current-carrying wire can be considered as a simple magnetostatic atomic-optical element.