Abstract

We demonstrate three-dimensional quenched narrow-line laser cooling and trapping of ${}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}.$ With 5 ms of cooling time we can transfer 28% of the atoms from a magneto-optic trap based on the strong 423-nm cooling line to a trap based on the narrow 657-nm clock transition (which is quenched by an intercombination line at 552 nm), thereby reducing the atoms’ temperature from 2 mK to 10 μK. This reduction in temperature should help to reduce the overall systematic frequency uncertainty for our Ca optical frequency standard to <1 Hz. Additional pulsed, quenched, narrow-line third-stage cooling in one dimension yields subrecoil temperatures as low as 300 nK and makes possible the observation of high-contrast two-pulse Ramsey spectroscopic line shapes.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

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