Yu Lu, UT-Austin

"A bright source of cold lithium atoms"

Abstract: This dissertation describes a general approach of generating a high flux of cold atoms that can be confined in a magneto-optical trap. As an alternative to the state-of-the-art laser cooling method, this approach widens our ability to cool and control atoms without relying on a specific atomic transition and availability of laser. I will discuss the design, construction of the experiment and characterization of a pulsed cold atom source coming out of a 2.5-meter-long magnetic decelerator.