Optical control of a magneto-optical trap for cesium atoms

Loading of a magneto-optical trap for cesium atoms is studied in presence of an auxiliary (control) laser beam that is tuned to 6s 1/2 F=4 → 6p 3/2 F' = 3,4,5 hyperfine manifold. It is shown that the steady state number of trapped atoms is enhanced or suppressed depending on the frequency, intensity and position of the control beam in the trap. The overall result is to provide an ability to optically control the number of trapped atoms without having to change the parameters of the trap. Detailed parametric studies of the control laser assisted optical manipulation of a MOT are presented.