An atom trap relying on optical pumping

We have investigated a new radiation pressure trap which relies on optical pumping and does not require any magnetic field. It employs six circularly polarized divergent beams and works on the red of a Jg→Je = Jg + 1 atomic transition with Jg≥1/2. We have demonstrated this trap with cesium atoms from a vapour cell using the 852 nm Jg = 4→Je = 5 resonance transition. The trap contained up to 3.107 atoms in a cloud of 1/√e radius of 330 μm. (orig.)