Ghaffari, B.Gerton, J.M.McAlexander, W.I.Strecker, K.E.Homan, D.M.Hulet, R.G.2015-03-302015-03-301999Ghaffari, B., Gerton, J.M., McAlexander, W.I., et al.. "Laser-free slow atom source." <i>Physical Review A,</i> 60, no. 5 (1999) American Physical Society: 3878-3881. http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.60.3878.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/79421A slow atom source, which does not rely on lasers, has been developed and characterized. The device, acting as an atomic low-pass velocity filter, utilizes permanent magnets to passively select the slow atoms present in a thermal atomic beam. Slow atoms are guided along a curved, conduction-limited tube by an octupole magnetic field, while fast atoms, unable to follow the curved trajectory, strike the tube wall and are removed from the beam. The performance of the device is demonstrated by loading a magneto-optical trap. Approximately 2×108 lithium atoms are loaded with a rate of ∼6×106 atoms/s, while maintaining a background gas pressure of ∼10−11 torr. This loading technique provides an exceptionally simple, economical, and robust alternative to laser cooling methods.engArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.Journal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.60.3878