OPTICAL CONFINEMENT OF A BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATE

Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms have been confined in an opt ical dipole trap using a single focused infrared laser beam. This elim inates the restrictions of magnetic traps for further studies of atom lasers and Bose-Einstein condensates. More than 5 x 10(6) condensed at oms were transferred into the optical trap. Densities of up to 3 X 10( 15) cm(-3) of Bose condensed atoms were obtained, allowing for a measu rement of the three-body loss rate constant for sodium condensates as K-3 = 1.1(3) X 10(-30) cm(6) s(-1). At lower densities, the observed 1 /e lifetime was longer than 10 s. Simultaneous confinement of Bose-Ein stein condensates in several hyperfine states was demonstrated.