Bidimensional focusing: a new approach to atomic beam targets

We describe a new type of optics for the production of polarized atomic beams, in particular in view of their use as polarized atomic beam targets. The system, composed of two orthogonal, decoupled plane magnet arrays, can be built in a rather open geometry and has a higher design flexibility than conventional axially symmetric optics. A free beam target thickness between 1013 and 1014 atoms/cm2 may be achieved.