Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 163, 95-100 (2008)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2008-00812-x

A permanent Zeeman slower for Sr atomic clock

National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK

Corresponding author: yuri.ovchinnikov@npl.co.uk

Abstract

A new type of transverse Zeeman slower composed of an array of compact discrete neodymium magnets is described. A simple and precise model of such a slower based on magnetic dipoles is developed. The design of such a slower for Sr atoms is presented. The slower needs no high currents or water cooling and the spatial distribution of its magnetic field can be adjusted in situ. Such a slower would be ideal for transportable optical atomic clocks and their future applications in space physics.