Zeeman slowing of thulium atoms

TL;DR

This paper reports the successful laser slowing of hot thulium atoms using a Zeeman slower, achieving low velocities and high flux, which suggests the feasibility of trapping Tm atoms in a magneto-optical trap.

Contribution

Demonstrated laser slowing of thulium atoms with a Zeeman slower, showing potential for magneto-optical trapping of Tm.

Findings

Atoms slowed to ~25 m/s

Flux of slowed atoms is 10^7 s^{-1}cm^{-2}

Feasibility of Tm atom trapping indicated

Abstract

We demonstrate laser slowing of a hot thulium atomic beam using the nearly closed cycling transition $4\textrm{f}^{13}6\textrm{s}^2(^2\textrm{F}^\circ)(J=7/2)\leftrightarrow4\textrm{f}^{12}(^3\textrm{H}_5)5\textrm{d}_{3/2}6\textrm{s}^2(J=9/2)$ at 410.6 nm. Atoms are decelerated to velocities around 25 m/s by a 40 cm Zeeman slower. The flux of slowed atoms is evaluated as $10^7 \textrm{s}^{-1}\textrm{cm}^{-2}$. The experiment explicitly indicates the possibility of trapping Tm atoms in a magneto-optical trap.