Raman cooling of atoms in two and three dimensions

Abstract

Sodium atoms have been cooled in two and three dimensions with stimulated Raman transitions. Atoms in 2D have been cooled to ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{rms}}$=1.2ħk/M, corresponding to an effective temperature of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$=1.7 μK while atoms in 3D have been cooled to ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{rms}}$=2.3ħk/M, or ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$=4.3 μK.