Loading mechanism for atomic guides

We present a method of coupling laser-cooled atoms from a vapor-cell magneto-optic trap (MOT) into a magnetic atom guide. The axis of the four-wire quadrupole guide passes directly through the center of the MOT. The guide is tilted at a small angle with respect to the horizontal plane to facilitate the propagation of the atoms released from the MOT into the guide. We demonstrate the loading of 10⁵ ⁸⁷Rb atoms into the guide and measure their propagation up to distances of 17 cm (limited by the guide length). The guide incorporates a tapered section in which the guide diameter reduces by a factor of about 3.