Time-of-flight measurement of the temperature of cold atoms for short trap-probe beam distances

• Published in: Journal of optics. B, Quantum and semiclassical optics Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 62 - 66
• Main Authors: Brzozowski, Tomasz M, Maczynska, Maria, Zawada, Michal, Zachorowski, Jerzy, Gawlik, Wojciech
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.02.2002; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; Exact sciences and technology; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Optical cooling of atoms; trapping; Photon interactions with atoms; Physics; Thermal instruments, apparatus and techniques; Thermometry; Temperature measurement; Monte Carlo methods; Digital simulation; Theoretical study; Measuring methods; Time-of-flight method; Cold atom; Experimental study; Atom trapping
• ISSN: 1464-4266; 1741-3575
• DOI: 10.1088/1464-4266/4/1/310

We analyze the time-of-flight method of measuring the temperature of cold trapped atoms in the specific case of short distances of the probe beam from the trap center and finite atomic cloud size. We theoretically examine the influence of the probe beam shape and its distance from the initial position of the cloud on the temperature evaluation. These results are then verified with a 3D Monte Carlo simulation and applied to our experimental data to show that the proposed procedure allows accurate and reliable determination of the temperature. (Author)