Measurements of capture velocity in a magneto-optical trap for a broad range of light intensities

Abstract

We use a dark-spot Zeeman-tuned slowing technique to measure the capture velocity in a sodium magneto-optical trap as a function of the trapping laser intensity. We expand on previous work by measuring the capture velocity over a broad range of light intensities. We observe that the capture velocity reaches a maximum value and then decreases with increasing light intensities, which might imply a minimum in the trap-loss rate. This observation supports a recently published explanation of the dependence of the trap-loss rates, at low intensities, based mainly on the escape velocity.