Competition of magneto-optical and optical lattice trapping

Measurements are reported that probe the redistribution of cold ⁸⁵Rb atoms between a continuously working magneto-optical trap (MOT) and 1D optical lattice imposed over it. The performed procedure provides a simple and versatile way of a real-time, nondestructive monitoring of the cold atom transfer from the non-localized MOT phase into the optical lattice.