Zeeman-tuned slowing of rubidium using sigma super(+) and sigma super(-) polarized light

• Published in: Optics communications Vol. 210; no. 3-6; pp. 259 - 270
• Main Authors: Mayer, S K, Minarik, N S, Shroyer, M H, Mclntyre, D H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15-09-2002
• ISSN: 0030-4018

Experimental results are presented for Zeeman-tuned slowing of an atomic rubidium beam in both the sigma super(+) and sigma super(-) polarized light configurations. A model of Zeeman slowing is applied to ideal magnetic fields, realistic fields, and the actual measured fields in order to clarify the similarities and differences between sigma super(+) and sigma super(-) slowing. The dependence of the final slowed velocity on the laser frequency detuning is studied and good agreement is found between the experimental results and both computer simulations and approximate analytic expressions. copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.