A statistical model for measuring the temperature of Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap

Abstract

We describe a statistical model for measuring the temperature of rubidium (Rb) atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Using a CCD camera, we recorded images of the expansion of the cloud of Rb atoms after disabling the MOT by switching off the current through the anti-Helmholtz coils. By treating the cloud of atoms expanding in optical molasses as a collection of particles executing a random walk, we employed a statistical model to derive an expression for the average atomic temperature.