Zeeman deceleration of H and D

Abstract

Hydrogen and deuterium atoms in supersonic jet expansions have been decelerated using a multistage Zeeman decelerator. The properties of the decelerator have been completely characterized in a series of experiments in which (i) the initial longitudinal velocities of the decelerated atoms, (ii) the maximum magnetic field strength, and (iii) the duration of zero-field intervals between successive field pulses in neighboring deceleration stages were systematically varied. Experiments using Ar and Kr as carrier gases have clearly revealed that the H atoms are located at the surface of the jet expansion cone in each case. Comparison of the results of these experiments with numerical simulations of the atom trajectories through the decelerator provides a full description of the phase-space distribution of the decelerated atoms. Evidence is presented of transverse guiding of the beam and of a partial redistribution of the H atom population among the ${M}_{F}$ components of the $F=1$ manifold at times when the magnetic field strength approaches zero.