Loading of a far off-resonance dipole force trap for stable 39K

A useful tool that can achieve a high level of spin polarization is a circularly polarized far off-resonance dipole force trap (CFORT). This work is the first step in its development; building the necessary components to successfully load stable K-39 into a linearly polarized far off-resonance trap (FORT) from a magneto-optical trap, where the atoms are precooled to a temperature of 400 mu K. The FORT consists of 700 mW of light from a titanium-sapphire ring laser, focused with a 200 mm achromatic lens to a waist of 35 mu m. The light is detuned between 1 and 20 nm to the red of the D-1 transition and this gives rise to trap depths in the region of a few milliKelvin. A characterization of the FORT's loading efficiency and lifetime as a function of FORT beam detuning, power, and ellipticity are studied.