Optimized atomic flux from a frequency-modulated two-dimensional magneto-optical trap for cold fermionic potassium atoms

摘要

We present our study on enhancement and optimization of potassium-40 (K-40) atomic beam flux from a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT) by modulating the frequency of cooling laser. The laser cooling beam frequencies of the 2D MOT were effectively broadened via electro-optical modulators at 10 MHz, with a modulation index ranging from beta = 0 to 7, depending on the laser intensity. Laser parameters of the 2D MOT beams and the magnetic field gradient were scanned for optimal settings for maximum atomic beam flux. When compared to a conventional 2D MOT with fixed laser frequencies, we were able to obtain a 3.7 times enhancement of the atomic flux when the total laser power was 640 mW. Numerical calculations predict further improvement for higher laser beam intensities. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America