The operation of a MOT involves three primary components:
Laser Cooling: Lasers are tuned slightly below the atomic resonance frequency, causing atoms moving towards the laser to absorb photons and decelerate, cooling the atoms. Magnetic Field: A spatially varying magnetic field is created using anti-Helmholtz coils, leading to a position-dependent force on the atoms due to the Zeeman effect. Optical Molasses: The combination of six counter-propagating laser beams from three orthogonal directions creates a damping force that reduces the atoms' kinetic energy, effectively trapping them in a small volume.
