LASER COOLING OF RUBIDIUM ATOMS IN A VAPOR CELL

We have constructed a simplified setup for the demonstration of laser cooling and trapping of rubidiuM atoms. An external-cavity diode laser was swept across the F = 3 --> F' = 2, 3, 4 resonances of the D2-line of Rb-85 at 780 nm to resolve the saturated absorption features. Subs equently, the transition F = 3 --> F' = 4 was used to cool rubidium at oms in a room-temperature vapor cell. A cold cloud of trapped atoms wi th a diameter of approximately 1 mm was produced. The lifetime of the trap was measured to be 1 second.