OBSERVATIONS OF SODIUM ATOMS IN A MAGNETIC MOLASSES TRAP LOADED BY A CONTINUOUS UNCOOLED SOURCE

We describe observations of atoms trapped in magnetic molasses made by using a simplified apparatus that is loaded by a continuous uncooled source of atoms. We also measured the cross section for collisions in which trapped sodium atoms are ejected from the trap by thermal sodium atoms and estimate that the cross section is 30 times larger than for collisions with other background thermal atoms. © 1990 Optical Society of America.