Rubidium mot thesis

An ultrahigh vacuum apparatus in the 10¡10Torr regime has been built which al- lows trapping of ultracold clouds of rubidium atoms. These atoms can be moved in a mechanically translated magnetic trap from the trapping region into the lower pressure region of the system with minimal losses.

Measured spectra are consistent with model calculations based on a non-interacting, thermal Bose-gas confined in an anisotropic, 3-dimensional, Gaussian potential.

Such advanced applications of cold and dense atomic ensembles require sophisticated trap- ping and cooling schemes and accompanying diagnostic techniques. This thesis describes the planning, implementation and operation of an experimental set-up for producing and characterizing micron sized, cold and dense rubidium samples.

Thisthesisdescribesexperimentsonlaserspectroscopyandmagneto- optical trapping of87Rb atoms. We perform polarization spec- troscopy with a novel high-power diode laser system. An ultrahigh vacuum apparatus in the 10¡10Torr regime has been built which al- lows trapping of ultracold clouds of rubidium atoms.