Implementation and Characterisation of a Pumping Laser for Iron Atoms Cooling

Abstract

Laser cooling of iron atoms has already proven successful in the past at IPNAS. In this work, we present an experimental add-on aimed at increasing the total number of trapped atoms. One such improvement involves optimising the pumping laser in the experimental setup, which is the focus of this master’s thesis. Here, we describe the implementation and characterisation of a new, more powerful laser diode in the experimental setup. We also evaluate the impact of this upgrade on the overall experiment, demonstrating a potential 1.5-fold increase in the total number of trapped atoms. This advancement contributes to the refinement of iron atom cooling techniques, paving the way for future applications such as atom trap trace analysis.