Jet-Loaded Cold Atomic Beam Source for Strontium

Abstract: We report on the design and characterization of a cold atom source for strontium (Sr) based on a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (MOT) that is directly loaded from the atom jet of a dispenser. We characterize the atom flux of the source by measuring the loading rate of a three-dimensional MOT. We find loading rates of up to $10^{8}$ atoms per second. The setup is compact, easy to construct, and has low power consumption. It addresses the long standing challenge of reducing the complexity of cold beam sources for Sr, which is relevant for optical atomic clocks and quantum simulation and computing devices based on ultracold Sr.