A simple atomic beam oven with a metal thermal break

Abstract

We report the design and construction of a simple, easy to machine high temperature oven for generating an atomic beam in laser cooling experiments. This design eliminates the problem of thermal isolation of the oven region from the rest of the vacuum system without using a glass or ceramic thermal break. This design simplifies the construction and operation of high temperature ovens for elements having low vapor pressure. We demonstrate the functionality of such a source for strontium (Sr) atoms. We generate a high flux of Sr atoms for use in laser cooling and trapping experiments. The optimization of the design of the metal thermal break is done using a finite element analysis.