Eur. Phys. J. D 23, 415-419 (2003)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2003-00089-5

Magneto-optical trapping of Stark-slowed metastable He atoms

¹ Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
² Max-Born-Institut, Max-Born Strasse 2a, 12489 Berlin, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a eichmann@mbi-berlin.de

Received: 2 October 2002
Revised: 20 January 2003
Published online: 29 April 2003

Abstract

We report on the first successful loading of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) with metastable He atoms from a Stark-slower. Thereby, deceleration of the atoms relies on laser-atom interaction in an inhomogeneous electric field. We show that the results obtained are comparable with early results from other groups achieved with a Zeeman slower. The Stark slower, which is able to fully control the final velocity of the atomic He beam, is the first step in achieving complete spin independent kinematic control based solely on electric fields.