Abstract
We have observed Bose-Einstein condensation of sodium atoms. The atoms were trapped in a novel trap that employed both magnetic and optical forces. Evaporative cooling increased the phase-space density by 6 orders of magnitude within seven seconds. Condensates contained up to 5 X 10(5) atoms at densities exceeding 10(14) cm(-3). The striking signature of Bose condensation was the sudden appearance of a bimodal velocity distribution below the critical temperature of similar to 2 mu K The distribution consisted of an isotropic thermal distribution and an elliptical core attributed to the expansion of a dense condensate.
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