https://doi.org/10.1140/e10053-002-0013-8
An intense, slow and cold beam of metastable Ne(3s) 3P2 atoms
Physics Department, Eindhoven University of Technology,
P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Corresponding author: a E.J.D.Vredenbregt@TUE.nl
Received:
22
June
2001
Published online: 15 January 2002
We employ laser cooling to intensify and cool an atomic
beam of metastable Ne(3s) atoms. Using several collimators, a slower and
a compressor we achieve a 20Ne* flux of 
atoms/s
in an 0.7 mm diameter beam traveling at 100 m/s, and having longitudinal
and transverse temperatures of 25 mK and 
K, respectively. This
constitutes the highest flux in a concentrated beam achieved to date with
metastable rare gas atoms. We characterize the action of the various
cooling stages in terms of their influence on the flux, diameter and
divergence of the atomic beam. The brightness and brilliance achieved are
2.1
s-1m-2sr-1 and 5.0
s-1m-2sr-1, respectively, comparable to the
highest values reported for alkali-metal beams. Bright beams of the
21Ne and 22Ne isotopes have also been created.
PACS: 39.25.+k – Atom manipulation (scanning probe microscopy, laser cooling, etc.) / 32.80.Lg – effects of light on atoms, molecules, and ions / 32.80.Pj – Optical cooling of atoms; trapping
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2002
