Two-photon cooling of magnesium atoms

Abstract

A two-photon mechanism for cooling atoms below the Doppler temperature is analyzed. We consider the magnesium ladder system (3s(2))S-1(0)->(3s3p)P-1(1) at 285.2 nm followed by the (3s3p)P-1(1)->(3s3d)D-1(2) transition at 880.7 nm. For the ladder system quantum coherence effects may become important. Combined with the basic two-level Doppler cooling process this allows for reduction of the atomic sample temperature by more than a factor of 10 over a broad frequency range. First experimental evidence for the two-photon cooling process is presented and compared to model calculations. Agreement between theory and experiment is excellent. In addition, by properly choosing the Rabi frequencies of the two optical transitions a velocity independent atomic dark state is observed.