An integrated high-flux cold atomic beam source for strontium

We present the design, construction, and characterization of an integrated cold atomic beam source for strontium (Sr), which is based on a compact Zeeman slower for slowing the thermal atomic beam and an atomic deflector for selecting the cold flux. By adopting arrays of permanent magnets to produce the magnetic fields of the slower and the deflector, we effectively reduce the system size and power compared to traditional systems with magnetic coils. After the slower cooling, one can employ additional transverse cooling in the radial direction and improve the atom collimation. The atomic deflectors employ two stages of two-dimensional magnetic-optical trapping (MOT) to deflect the cold flux, whose atomic speed is lower than 50 m/s, by 20 degrees from the thermal atomic beam. We characterize the cold atomic beam flux of the source by measuring the loading rate of a three-dimensional MOT. The loading rates reach up to 109 atoms/s. The setup is compact, highly tunable, lightweight, and requires low electrical power, which addresses the challenge of reducing the complexity of building optical atomic clocks and quantum simulation devices based on Sr. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0162128

Automated summary

This study presents the design and construction of an integrated cold atomic beam source for strontium (Sr). The source utilizes a compact Zeeman slower and an atomic deflector to slow down the thermal atomic beam and select the cold flux. The system is compact, highly tunable, lightweight, and requires low electrical power, making it suitable for constructing optical atomic clocks and quantum simulation devices based on Sr.