Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of generating and trapping laser cooled metal atoms in a magneto-optical trap, the method comprising (a) providing an apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber, a magneto-optical trap arranged to be generated within the vacuum chamber, and an ablation laser, (b) placing an elemental metal sample within the vacuum chamber and then generating a vacuum within the vacuum chamber, (c) irradiating the elemental metal sample with the ablation laser to generate an atomic vapour formed of elemental metal atoms from the elemental metal sample, and (d) trapping a plurality of the elemental metal atoms in the magneto-optical trap. Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for capturing cold elemental metal atoms, the apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber, an apparatus that generates a magneto-optical trap within the vacuum chamber, an ablation laser, and an elemental metal sample holder, wherein the elemental metal sample holder is situated within the vacuum chamber at a location that does not require the ablation laser to pass through the magneto-optical trap.

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First Claim