  Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms have been confined in an optical
dipole trap using a single focused infrared laser beam. This eliminates the
restrictions of magnetic traps for further studies of atom lasers and
Bose-Einstein condensates. More than five million condensed atoms were
transferred into the optical trap. Densities of up to $3 \times 10^{15}
cm^{-3}$ of Bose condensed atoms were obtained, allowing for a measurement of
the three-body decay rate constant for sodium condensates as $K_3 = (1.1 \pm
0.3) \times 10^{-30} cm^6 s^{-1}$. At lower densities, the observed 1/e
lifetime was more than 10 sec. Simultaneous confinement of Bose-Einstein
condensates in several hyperfine states was demonstrated.

Condensed Matter