TRAP FOR POLARIZED ATOMS BASED ON LIGHT-INDUCED DRIFT

A polarization of sodium atoms in a simple trap based on the light-ind uced drift effect is reported. A sapphire capillary with one side clos ed and heated up to high temperature was used as the trap. The capacit y of the trap is about 5 x 10(11) atoms. The achieved polarization of trapped atoms in the gas phase is about 90%. The full polarization of atoms in the trap is estimated at 25% at the temperature of 1400 degre es C. The adsorption energy of sodium atoms on a sapphire surface is d etermined to be 2.5 eV.