Loading mechanism for atomic guides - art. no. 031402

We present a method of coupling laser-cooled atoms from a vapor-cell magnet o-optic trap (MOT) into a magnetic atom guide. The axis of the four-wire qu adrupole guide passes directly through the center of the MOT. The guide is tilted at a small angle with respect to the horizontal plane to facilitate the propagation of the atoms released from the MOT into the guide. We demon strate the loading of 10(5) Rb-87 atoms into the guide and measure their pr opagation up to distances of 17 cm (limited by the guide length). The guide incorporates a tapered section in which the guide diameter reduces by a fa ctor of about 3.