DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF FINE-STRUCTURE COLLISIONAL LOSSES FROM A CS MAGNETOOPTICAL TRAP

Losses from a cesium magneto-optical trap induced by fine-structure ch anging collisions have been measured directly by counting of fluoresce nce photons emitted at the D-1 resonance line, with the trap lasers op erating on the D-2 resonance line. The absolute value of the fine-stru cture loss rate coefficient has been measured and its dependence on th e hyperfine state occupation has been explored. These results provide a fundamental test for the theoretical descriptions of excited-state t rap losses.