A compact high-flux source of cold sodium atoms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a compact, high-flux sodium atom source using permanent magnets, enabling efficient production of Bose-Einstein condensates in a small footprint for quantum experiments.

Contribution

A novel compact sodium atom source utilizing permanent magnets for simultaneous Zeeman slowing and 2D MOT, significantly reducing size and enhancing flux.

Findings

Achieved atomic flux over 4x10^9 atoms/s in a MOT

Produced a BEC with more than 10^7 atoms

Demonstrated a 5-minute lifetime limited by background pressure

Abstract

We present a compact source of cold sodium atoms suitable for the production of quantum degenerate gases and versatile for a multi-species experiment. The magnetic field produced by permanent magnets allows to simultaneously realize a Zeeman slower and a two-dimensional MOT within an order of magnitude smaller length than standard sodium sources. We achieve an atomic flux exceeding 4x10^9 atoms/s loaded in a MOT, with a most probable longitudinal velocity of 20 m/s, and a brightness larger than 2.5x10^(12) atoms/s/sr. This atomic source allowed us to produce a pure BEC with more than 10^7 atoms and a background pressure limited lifetime of 5 minutes.