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Phys. Rev. A 60, R29–R32 (1999)

Quantum-diffractive background gas collisions in atom-trap heating and loss

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S. Bali, K. M. O’Hara, M. E. Gehm, S. R. Granade, and J. E. Thomas
Physics Department, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0305

Received 19 March 1999; revised 3 May 1999; published in the issue dated July 1999

We derive a simple formula for the heating rate that arises from quantum-diffractive background gas collisions in atom traps. This result appears to explain the residual heating rates reported for recent experiments with a Cs vapor-loaded, far-detuned optical trap at ≃10-9 Torr [Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 5768 (1998)]. Diffractive collisions may determine the minimum heating rates achievable in shallow all-optical or magnetic atom traps operating at low temperature and high density.

© 1999 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.60.R29
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevA.60.R29
PACS:
32.80.Pj
 
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