[time-nuts] Frequency processing scheme of HP5065 vapour rubidium standard

[Tom Van Baak]

> But something bugs me... In both fountains and single
> ion mercury standards, lasers are used to COOL DOWN
> atoms...
> 
> How is it possible? Lasers are energy sources, and (at
> least for me), anything that is hit by a laser will
> get warm, not cold!
> 
> Thanks for your attention..
> 
> Normand Matrel

Laser cooling is a very clever technique that uses slightly
off-tuned lasers. Start with:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_cooling

http://tf.nist.gov/general/enc-l.htm#lasercooling

NIST Ion Storage Group
http://tf.nist.gov/ion/index.htm

/tvb