Realization of a single-beam mini magneto-optical trap: A candidate for compact CPT cold atom-clocks

We have demonstrated the experimental realization of a single-beam mini magneto-optical trap of 87Rb atoms, originally designed for a cold atom-clock with coherent population trapping (CPT). Only one beam is used as cooling, trapping and repumping beams rather than the three pairs of orthogonal beams of the standard magneto-optical trap. The core optics, which consists of a modified pyramidal funnel type mirror, a quarter-wave plate and a retroreflect mirror, is installed inside a mini titanium cubic chamber. The vacuum system, rubidium source, magnetic field coils and beam expander are designed in a compact geometry. As many as 1.1 × 107 rubidium atoms are cooled and trapped, and thus the mini trap is ready for the implementation of a novel compact coherent population trapping cold atom-clock.