Continuous outcoupling of ultracold strontium atoms combining three different traps

We have demonstrated the continuous outcoupling of ultracold 88 Sr atoms using a moving optical lattice. While Sr atoms are Zeeman-slowed and magneto-optically trapped on the 1 S 0 – 1 P 1 transition, the atoms relaxed to the 5s5p 3 P 2 metastable state are magnetically trapped and Doppler cooled on the 5s5p 3 P 2 –5s4d 3 D 3 transition at 2.92 μ m. By optically pumping the atoms to the 5s5p 3 P 0 state, we outcouple the atoms by a moving optical lattice. Such a continuous atomic source enables superradiant lasers and the zero-dead-time operation of atom interferometers and optical lattice clocks.