Beam

Year: 
2015
Ranking: 
Entrant
Artist: 
Zachary Geiger (Graduate Student)
Lab: 
Weld Lab

Description

Counter-propagating beams of atomic Lithium and resonant laser light in an Ultra High Vacuum chamber. Atoms pictured are traveling over two thousand miles per hour, yet are slowed to less than two miles per hour five feet away. Lithium-7 atoms are heated to 425 C (700 Kelvin) in an oven and then passed through a nozzle to create a beam of gaseous atoms directed toward the magneto-optical trap. Resonant photons scatter off of the atoms, Doppler cooling them to below 1 mili-Kelvin. Process takes place in a 316-alloy stainless steel UHV chamber at pressures of approximately 10^-9 Torr.

CSEPSchuller LabCNSIUCSBMOXI