Vacuum-pressure measurement using a magneto-optical trap
Vacuum-pressure measurement using a magneto-optical trap
The loading dynamics of an alkali-metal-atom magneto-optical trap can be used as a reliable measure of vacuum pressure, with loading time $\ensuremath{\tau}$ indicating a pressure less than or equal to ($2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ Torr s)/$\ensuremath{\tau}$. This relation is accurate to approximately a factor of 2 over wide variations in trap parameters, background …