Trapping deuterium atoms

Abstract

Cold deuterium atoms in a supersonic beam have been decelerated from an initial velocity of $475$ m/s to zero velocity in the laboratory frame using a $24$-stage Zeeman decelerator. The atoms have been loaded in a magnetic quadrupole trap at a temperature of $~100$ mK and an initial density of $~10$${}^{6}$ cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. Efficient deceleration was achieved by pulsing the magnetic fields in the decelerator solenoids using irregular sequences of phase angles. Trap loading was optimized by monitoring and suppressing the observed reflection of the atoms by the field gradient of the back solenoid of the trap.