Enhanced observation time of magneto-optical traps using micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps

Rodolphe Boudot (1, 2) , James P Mcgilligan (3, 2) , Kaitlin R Moore (2) , Vincent Maurice (2, 3) , Gabriela D Martinez (2, 3) , Azure Hansen (2) , Emeric de Clercq (4, 5) , John Kitching (2)

1 FEMTO-ST - Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174)
2 NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology [Boulder]
3 University of Colorado [Boulder]
4 SYRTE - Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace
5 LNE - SYRTE - Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace

We show that micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps (NEGs) can extend the time over which laser cooled atoms can be produced in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), in the absence of other vacuum pumping mechanisms. In a first study, we incorporate a silicon-glass microfabricated ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cell with silicon etched NEG cavities and alumino-silicate glass (ASG) windows and demonstrate the observation of a repeatedly-loading MOT over a 10 min period with a single laser-activated NEG. In a second study, the capacity of passive pumping with laser activated NEG materials is further investigated in a borosilicate glass-blown cuvette cell containing five NEG tablets. In this cell, the MOT remained visible for over 4 days without any external active pumping system. This MOT observation time exceeds the one obtained in the no-NEG scenario by almost five orders of magnitude. The cell scalability and potential vacuum longevity made possible with NEG materials may enable in the future the development of miniaturized cold-atom instruments.

Domaines: Physique [physics]; Astrophysique [astro-ph]

Rodolphe Boudot, James P Mcgilligan, Kaitlin R Moore, Vincent Maurice, Gabriela D Martinez, et al.. Enhanced observation time of magneto-optical traps using micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10 (1), pp.16590. ⟨10.1038/s41598-020-73605-z⟩. ⟨hal-02986894⟩