Guiding of metastable helium atoms through hollow optical fibres

Atoms can be transported through hollow optical fibres using laser light blue-detuned from the atomic resonance, which propagates through the fibre to create a repulsive evanescent light field at the inner fibre wall. We report here the first transmission of metastable helium (2³S₁) atoms through such hollow optical fibres. Using fused silica capillaries with several different geometries, laser radiation that is blue-detuned from the 2³S₁→2³P₂ transition was focused into the body of the capillary via total internal reflection from a 45° bevel polished at one end. Laser fields were used with both co- and counter-propagating configurations to the atomic beam.