Continuous Stopping and Trapping of Neutral Atoms

Abstract

Neutral sodium atoms have been continuously loaded into a 0.1-K-deep superconducting magnetic trap with laser light used to slow and stop them. At least 1 × ${10}^9$ atoms were trapped with a decay time of 2½ min. The fluorescence of the trapped atoms was studied as a function of time; possible loss mechanisms from the trap are discussed.