Quasi-two-dimensional isotropic laser cooling of atoms for quantum sensing

Abstract Isotropic laser cooling (ILC) is widely recognized for its distinct advantages and demonstrates significant potential in quantum precision measurements and quantum sensing technologies. The morphology and density distribution of the cold atomic cloud generated by ILC are strongly influenced by the distribution of cooling light and the structural geometry of the cavity, making precise characterization and optimization of cold atom distribution essential for practical applications. In this paper, we present an innovative flat diffuse cavity design with the dimensions approximating a quasi-two-dimensional configuration, which generates a sheet-like isotropic laser field inside the cavity through diffuse reflections. We thoroughly characterized the system’s performance under different optical parameter settings. A two-dimensional (2D) movable detection system was employed to detect the quasi-two-dimensional distribution of cold atoms. These results demonstrate the ability of ILC to produce diverse morphological and density distributions of cold atoms, which we anticipate will be suitable for quantum sensing.