Sensitive spectroscopy and atom dynamics in a single beam optical trap

Abstract

Summary form only given. Cold atoms are trapped in a dark optical trap which is created by a rapidly (up to 400 kHz) scanning far-detuned laser beam, where the scanning speed is much faster then any characteristic atomic motional time scale. This concept offers the possibility to form nearly arbitrary-shaped effective optical potentials and also to change them in real time. We report on spectroscopic and dynamical measurements in such a rotating beam trap.