Sodium MOT collection efficiency as a function of the trapping and repumping laser frequencies and intensities

A detailed theoretical and experimental description of a sodium MOT as a function of the pumping and repumping laser frequencies and intensities is given. The effective trapping schemes and the collection efficiency have been experimentally measured and calculated by solving an original 3D model. This model considers the whole bunch of the 32 ground and excited (P-1/2 + P-3/2) Zeeman sublevels, the actual trap geometry, the magnetic field intensity and direction, the light polarization, and evaluates both the velocity capture range nu (c) and the number of trapped particles N. Synergetic and competition mechanisms due to the trapping and repumping lasers have been predicted and experimentally observed. The model simulation has been compared with the results reported in the literature and with those obtained by us and a quite good agreement has been found. The model can be easily adapted to the other sodium isotopes as well as to all the other alkalis.