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Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms have been confined in an optical dipole trap using a single focused infrared laser beam. This eliminates the restrictions of magnetic traps for further studies of atom lasers and Bose-Einstein condensates. More than 510^6 condensed atoms were transferred into the optical trap. Densities of up to 310^15cm^-3 of Bose condensed atoms were obtained, allowing for a measurement of the three-body loss rate constant for sodium condensates as K₃0ex{0ex}=0ex{0ex}1. 1 (3) 10^-30cm^6s^-1. At lower densities, the observed 1/e lifetime was longer than 10 s. Simultaneous confinement of Bose-Einstein condensates in several hyperfine states was demonstrated.
Stamper-Kurn et al. (Mon,) studied this question.