Bidirectional propagation of cold atoms in a “stadium”-shaped magnetic guide
Bidirectional propagation of cold atoms in a “stadium”-shaped magnetic guide
We demonstrate the bidirectional propagation of more than ${10}^{7}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{atoms}$ ${(}^{87}\mathrm{Rb})$ around a ``stadium''-shaped magnetic ring that encloses an area of $10.9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, with a flux density exceeding ${10}^{11}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{atom}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. Atoms are loaded into the guide from a two-dimensional (and higher) magneto-optical trap at one side of the ``stadium.'' An optical standing wave …