The immersion of a single ion confined by a radiofrequency (RF) trap in an ultracold atomic gas extends the concept of buffer gas cooling to a new temperature regime. The steady-state energy distribution of the ion is determined by its kinetics in the RF field rather than the temperature of the buffer gas. Moreover, the finite size of the ultracold gas facilitates the observation of back-action of the ion onto the buffer gas. We numerically investigate the system's properties depending on atom–ion mass ratio, trap geometry, differential cross-section and non-uniform neutral atom density distribution. Experimental results are well reproduced by our model considering only elastic collisions. We identify excess micromotion to set the typical scale for the ion energy statistics and explore the applicability of the mobility collision cross-section to the ultracold regime.The immersion of a single ion confined by a radiofrequency (RF) trap in an ultracold atomic gas extends the concept of buffer gas cooling to a new temperature regime. The steady-state energy distribution of the ion is determined by its kinetics in the RF field rather than the temperature of the buffer gas. Moreover, the finite size of the ultracold gas facilitates the observation of back-action of the ion onto the buffer gas. We numerically investigate the system's properties depending on atom–ion mass ratio, trap geometry, differential cross-section and non-uniform neutral atom density distribution. Experimental results are well reproduced by our model considering only elastic collisions. We identify excess micromotion to set the typical scale for the ion energy statistics and explore the applicability of the mobility collision cross-section to the ultracold regime.

arXiv:1012.0304New Journal of PhysicsMay 13, 201161 citations

Non-Equilibrium Enhancement of Superfluidity in a Trapped Fermi Gas

Andrew J. Robertson, Victor M. Galitski

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 19, 20090 citations

Experimental setup for studying an ultracold mixture of trapped Yb+–Li6

Henrik Hirzler, Thomas Feldker, Henning A. Fürst +7 more

We describe and characterize an experimental apparatus that has been used to study interactions between ultracold lithium atoms and ytterbium ions. The preparation of ultracold clouds of Li atoms is described as well as their subsequent transport and overlap with ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ions trapped in a Paul trap. We show how the kinetic energy of the ion after interacting with the atoms can be obtained by laser spectroscopy. We analyze the dynamics of the buffer-gas-cooled ion after releasing the atoms, which indicates that background heating, due to electric-field noise, limits attainable buffer gas cooling temperatures. This effect can be mitigated by increasing the density of the Li gas in order to improve its cooling power. Imperfections in the Paul trap lead to so-called excess micromotion, which poses another limitation to the buffer gas cooling. We describe in detail how we measure and subsequently minimize excess micromotion in our setup. We measure the effect of excess micromotion on attainable ion temperatures after buffer gas cooling and compare this to molecular dynamics simulations, which describe the observed data very well.We describe and characterize an experimental apparatus that has been used to study interactions between ultracold lithium atoms and ytterbium ions. The preparation of ultracold clouds of Li atoms is described as well as their subsequent transport and overlap with ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ions trapped in a Paul trap. We show how the kinetic energy of the ion after interacting with the atoms can be obtained by laser spectroscopy. We analyze the dynamics of the buffer-gas-cooled ion after releasing the atoms, which indicates that background heating, due to electric-field noise, limits attainable buffer gas cooling temperatures. This effect can be mitigated by increasing the density of the Li gas in order to improve its cooling power. Imperfections in the Paul trap lead to so-called excess micromotion, which poses another limitation to the buffer gas cooling. We describe in detail how we measure and subsequently minimize excess micromotion in our setup. We measure the effect of excess micromotion on attainable ion temperatures after buffer gas cooling and compare this to molecular dynamics simulations, which describe the observed data very well.

arXiv:2005.06375Physical Review ASep 18, 202012 citations

{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}

ions trapped in a Paul trap. We show how the kinetic energy of the ion after interacting with the atoms can be obtained by laser spectroscopy. We analyze the dynamics of the buffer-gas-cooled ion after releasing the atoms, which indicates that background heating, due to electric-field noise, limits attainable buffer gas cooling temperatures. This effect can be mitigated by increasing the density of the Li gas in order to improve its cooling power. Imperfections in the Paul trap lead to so-called excess micromotion, which poses another limitation to the buffer gas cooling. We describe in detail how we measure and subsequently minimize excess micromotion in our setup. We measure the effect of excess micromotion on attainable ion temperatures after buffer gas cooling and compare this to molecular dynamics simulations, which describe the observed data very well.