We present what is to our knowledge the first observation of spin-polarized
atoms cooled within a reflecting cylinder in a high-power medium. A low-pr
essure vapor of cesium atoms is stored in a glass cell whose volume is 58 c
m(3). Cooling laser light (lambda = 852 nm) is injected into the cell by op
tical fibers and is recycled by multiple reflections from the walls of the
cylinder. The technique used in this experiment greatly simplifies the gene
ration of laser-cooled atoms. A maximum of 2.5 X 10(8) cold atoms was detec
ted by a time-of-flight technique. The damping of atomic motion has lead to
temperatures as low as 3.5 muK. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.