Slowing dynamics of a supersonic beam, simulation and experiments

• Main Authors: Hamamda, Mehdi, Taillandier-Loize, Thierry, Baudon, Jacques, Dutier, Gabriel, Perales, Francisco, Ducloy, Martial
• Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Physics & Applied Physics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/81125; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/39096
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this paper we present numerical and experimental methods aimed to study the evolution in space and time of a slowed supersonic beam. These generic methods are applicable to a variety of beams and decelerating techniques. The present implemented experimental set up is based upon Zeeman slowing of a metastable atom beam. The detection uses a channel-electron multiplier and a delay-line detector allowing time-of-flight analysis and numerical image reconstruction. In particular a depopulation effect at the centre of the beam is evidenced. In view of quantifying the slowing process, Monte Carlo calculations based on rate-equations are detailed.