Stochastic cooling of atoms using lasers

Abstract

We propose a method to laser-cool atoms based on stochastic cooling, first developed at CERN to cool antiprotons. Fluctuations in the momentum distribution will be detected in a pump-probe configuration with far-detuned lasers, and the appropriate correction kick will be accomplished with optical dipole potentials. Each stage of an iterative cooling process will involve measurement and feedback, with phase space remixing in between. We discuss possible applications of this method to magnetically trapped atoms and molecules.