Open AccessArray of micro-optical traps for cold atoms or cold molecules using a Damman grating
Author(s) -
Xiaomei Ji,
Lu Jun-Fa,
Renwang Mu,
Jianping Yin
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.55.3396
Subject(s) - optical tweezers , grating , optics , ultracold atom , trap (plumbing) , gaussian , intensity (physics) , physics , materials science , lens (geology) , laser , laser cooling , trapping , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , quantum , ecology , meteorology , biology
We propose a novel scheme to produce an array of micro-optical traps by using an optical system composed of a Damman grating and a spherical lens, which is illuminated by a red detuned Gaussian laser beam. We derive formulas to calculate the periodical structures of the micro-optical well arrays, and characteristics of each well, such as the spatial intensity distribution, intensity gradient, and geometrical parameters. Applications of our micro-optical traps in the fields of atom and molecule optics are briefly discussed. Our study shows that the proposed array of micro-optical wells can be used to trap cold atoms or cold molecules more efficiently than previous optical traps, even to prepare novel optical lattices.