Two-Dimensional Magneto-optical Trap for Producing a Flux of Cold Thulium Atoms

Abstract

We propose a design of a source of cold thulium atoms based on a 2D magneto-optical trap and perform numerical simulation of its operation. Optimal parameters of cooling radiation and the magnetic field are determined; it is shown that for a total radiation power of 50 mW and an atomic oven temperature of 800 K, the proposed configuration can provide a flux of 4 × 10⁸ cold atoms per second, and with an increase of the oven temperature, the flux can reach ~ 10¹¹ atom/s. Such a source can be used for building frequency standards as well as in experiments with quantum simulators and the Bose–Einstein condensate.