Abstract

We have constructed a 3-dimensional optical dipole-force lattice (DFL) for neutral lithium atoms, composed of four mutually intersecting ~50 mW laser beams tuned 0. lnm to 6 nm to the red of the lithium 2S_l/2-2P_3/2 transition. The traveling wave laser beams are focused to l/e² diameters as small as 140 µm at the intersection to achieve intensities high enough to confine atoms at large detunings. The relative propagation vectors and polarizations (see Fig. 1) cause the beams to intetfere, creating a 3-D lattice of potential wells of high intensity light, sufficiently deep to trap ultra-cold lithium atoms via the optical dipole force (see Fig. 2).

© 1994 Optical Society of America