Improved transfer efficiency with pulsed atom transfer between two magneto-optical traps

Abstract: In our double magneto-optical trap (MOT) setup containing a vapor chamber MOT (VC-MOT) and an ultra high vacuum MOT (UHV-MOT) for $^{87}$Rb atoms, we find that transfer of atoms from VC-MOT to UHV-MOT can be enhanced by employing a pulsed VC-MOT loading followed by a pulsed push beam, as compared to that obtained by focusing a continuous wave (CW) push beam on a continuously loaded VC-MOT. By choosing appropriately the VC-MOT duration and push beam duration, the number of atoms in UHV-MOT was $\sim$3-times the number obtained with a continuous VC-MOT and a CW push beam of optimized power. The processes affecting the pulsed transfer have been studied.