Eur. Phys. J. D 57, 87-94 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-00005-0

Cold atom guidance by a holographically-generated Laguerre-Gaussian laser mode

Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS II, UPR 3321, Université Paris-Sud, bât. 505, 91405 Orsay, France

Corresponding author: laurence.pruvost@lac.u-psud.fr

Received: 23 June 2009
Revised: 28 October 2009
Published online: 19 January 2010

Abstract

We report on the quantitative study of guiding of cold rubidium atoms in a Laguerre-Gaussian laser mode LG₀^l, which is holographically prepared using a spatial light modulator. We have measured the guiding efficiency (up to 25%) and studied the variations versus l, the order of the mode and versus the laser detuning. We interpret the observed behavior by using a two-dimensional trap model and by calculating the capture efficiency of the initial atomic cloud by the dipole guide.