Eur. Phys. J. D 41, 221-227 (2007)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2006-00242-8

Open-channel fluorescence imaging of atoms in high-gradient magnetic fields

FOCUS Center, Physics Department, University of Michigan, 450 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1120, USA

Corresponding author: ^a rmhaskar@umich.edu

Received: 18 March 2006
Revised: 20 June 2006
Published online: 10 November 2006

Abstract

A method of imaging distributions of cold atoms under the presence of large trapping-field-induced level shifts is investigated. By utilizing a probe laser tuned to an open transition, the fluorescence yield per atom is largely fixed throughout the trap volume, independent of the trapping field. This enables a reliable conversion of fluorescence images into atomic-density profiles. The method is applied to measure distributions of ⁸⁷Rb atoms in a high-gradient (2.7 kG/cm) magnetic atom guide. We characterize the parameters for which the open-channel imaging method performs best. Results of quantum Monte Carlo simulations verify the underlying assumptions of the method.