Spin-polarized spontaneous-force atom trap

We present observations of a spontaneous-force optical trap in which rubidium atoms are spin polarized by optical pumping. Stable trapping is achieved in two dimensions by the same force as in the Zeeman-shift optical trap, and in the third dimension by a macroscopic vortex force that is insensitive to light polarizations and magnetic fields. When the light along this third direction is circularly polarized and a parallel magnetic field is applied, the atoms become spin polarized.