Magneto-optical trap for 6Li atoms formed by elliptically polarised light waves

We report a study of a model of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for atoms 6Li in the field with ε - θ - ε̅ configuration produced by the counterpropagating elliptically polarised waves, which are in resonance with the optical transition ²S_1/2 → ²P_3/2 (λ = 670.977 nm). The model takes into account hyperfine splitting of levels inside the natural linewidth of the optical transition. In contrast to a conventional MOT formed by counterpropagating circularly polarised waves (σ₊ – σ_– configuration), the suggested MOT may provide a deeper sub-Doppler cooling of ⁶Li atoms.