The realization of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for silver atoms is reported. Trapping light at 328 nm was used and the trap was loaded directly from a thermal beam to store over ${10}^6\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{atoms}$ with storage times of up to 16 s. Evidence of branching from the ${}^2{P}_{3/2}$ excited state to the metastable ${}^2{D}_{5/2}$ level was found and its decay rate determined. The temperature of the atoms is estimated to be $300\left(90\right)\mathrm{}\hspace{0.5em}\mu \mathrm{K}$ by measuring the mechanical properties of the MOT through observation of trap center oscillations.

• Received 28 July 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.62.063404