Compact Two-Dimensional Magneto-Optical Trap for Ultracold Atom Setups

Abstract: We report on the design, implementation, and performance of a compact two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT) for cesium. In a small-volume vacuum chamber, the setup uses cesium dispensers in close proximity to the trapping region of the 2D MOT and operates at low vapor pressures in the $10^{-9}$ torr range. We achieve a cold atom flux of $4 \times 10^8$ atoms/s that is comparable to the performance of more complex atomic sources. The setup is simple to construct and can be adapted to a broad range of atomic species.