Two-and four-beam magneto-optical trapping of neutral atoms

We report the experimental realization of new stable three-dimensional schemes for trapping neutral cesium atoms in a vapor cell that use either two or four Gaussian laser beams. Probe-beam absorption is employed to characterize both types of trap, and densities of 2 x 10(8) and 1 x 10(10) cm(-3), respectively, are measured for the two-and four-beam traps. The two-beam trapping mechanism combines a longitudinal magneto-optical force with a transverse spontaneous radiation pressure force associated basically with the beam geometry. This theoretical analysis compares well with our experimental observations.