Eur. Phys. J. D 6, 179-183 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050299

Electrodynamic trap for neutral atoms

Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik and Sektion Physik der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany

Received: 7 August 1998
Revised: 7 January 1999
Published online: 15 May 1999

Abstract

An electrodynamic trap is proposed that stores cold neutral atoms or nonpolar molecules in their ground state as well as in excited states by means of the quadratic Stark effect. The trap uses an oscillating hexapole field and a superposed static homogeneous field. The dynamics of an atom in this trap can be described as a harmonic oscillation in a static pseudopotential. Stability criteria and sample parameters for a number of atomic species are given.