Abstract

We demonstrate laser Doppler cooling of magnetically trapped neutral atoms. Following the application of one-dimensional optical molasses to a sample of magnetically trapped Na atoms, a substantial reduction has been observed in the linewidths of both laser absorption and rf resonance spectra, indicating cooling of the sample to ∼2 mK. A simple model of the one-dimensional Doppler cooling process of the atoms in the trap is presented and compared with the experimentally observed results.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

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