Magneto-optical trap for Li-6 atoms formed by elliptically polarised light waves

We report a study of a model of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for atoms Li-6 in the field with epsilon - theta - (epsilon) over bar configuration produced by the counterpropagating elliptically polarised waves, which are in resonance with the optical transition 2(S1/2) -> P-2(3/2) (lambda l = 670.977 nm). The model takes into account hyperfine splitting of levels inside the natural linewidth of the optical transition. In contrast to a conventional MOT formed by counterpropagating circularly polarised waves (sigma(+) - sigma(-) configuration), the suggested MOT may provide a deeper sub-Doppler cooling of Li-6 atoms.