Abstract

We have found that linearly polarized light can be used efficiently for optical trapping of cesium atoms in a magnetic-quadrupole field. The number and density of atoms of the trapped samples are comparable to a standard magneto-optical trap with σ⁺ - σ^– polarized light, but the influence of the magnetic-quadrupole strength is strikingly different. When the polarization of counterpropagating light beams is orthogonal, trapping is observed also for zero magnetic field.