Abstract:
We consider a magneto-optical trap (MOT) formed by elliptically polarised waves for $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ atoms on a closed optical ${}^3P_2\to{}^3D_3$ ($\lambda=383.8$ nm) transition in the $\varepsilon-\theta-\bar\varepsilon$ configuration of the field. Compared with a known MOT formed by circularly polarised waves ($\sigma_+-\sigma_-$ configuration), the suggested configuration of the trap formed by fields of $\varepsilon-\theta-\bar\varepsilon$ configuration allows deeper sub-Doppler cooling of trapped $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ atoms, which cannot be implemented in a conventional trap formed by fields of $\sigma_+-\sigma_-$ configuration.