Comprehensive Control of Atomic Motion
Abstract
Recent work provides a general two-step solution to trapping and cooling of atoms. The first step is magnetic stopping of paramagnetic atoms with the use of a sequence of pulsed fields. The second step is single-photon cooling, which is based on a one-way barrier. This cooling method is related intimately to the historic problem of “Maxwell’s Demon” and subsequent work by L. Szilard. Here, I discuss the connections between single-photon cooling and information entropy. I also outline future application of these methods to fundamental tests with hydrogen isotopes.
- Publication:
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Science
- Pub Date:
- June 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1171506
- Bibcode:
- 2009Sci...324.1403R
- Keywords:
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- PHYSICS