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arXiv:1904.05230

A dual-species magneto-optical trap for lithium and strontium atoms

Xiaobin Ma, Zhuxiong Ye, Li-Yang Xie, Zhen Guo, Li You, Meng Khoon Tey

Published Apr 10, 2019• 0 citations
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Abstract

We present a machine built for experiments with ultracold mixtures of strontium and lithium atoms. The machine includes a science vacuum chamber and the relevant laser systems for cooling and trapping the atoms. With this machine, we realize a D2-line compressed magneto-optical trap (MOT) for ${^6}$Li and a narrow-linewidth 689-nm MOT for $^{84}$Sr, obtaining ~$10^9$ ${^6}$Li atoms at 700 $μ$K and ~$10^7$ $^{84}$Sr atoms at 1.8 $μ$K. Such a dual-species MOT provides an ideal starting point for realizing double degenerate mixtures of $^6$Li and Sr atoms.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1904.05230

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•Jan 1, 2008•1 citation
We present a machine built for experiments with ultracold mixtures of strontium and lithium atoms. The machine includes a science vacuum chamber and the relevant laser systems for cooling and trapping the atoms. With this machine, we realize a D2-line compressed magneto-optical trap (MOT) for 6{^6}6Li and a narrow-linewidth 689-nm MOT for 84^{84}84Sr, obtaining ~10910^9109 6{^6}6Li atoms at 700 μμμK and ~10710^7107 84^{84}84Sr atoms at 1.8 μμμK. Such a dual-species MOT provides an ideal starting point for realizing double degenerate mixtures of 6^66Li and Sr atoms.
Integrating two chemically distinct atomic species into a miniaturized, high-flux cold-atom source is a key challenge for modern experiments with ultracold atomic mixtures and polar molecules. Here, we report a compact setup with in-series two-dimensional magneto-optical traps (2D MOTs) that provides high-flux cold lithium and rubidium atoms. Thanks to the efficient short-distance Zeeman slowing, the maximum 3D MOT loading rate of lithium atoms reaches a record value of 6.6 × 10 9 atoms/s at a moderate lithium-oven temperature of 372 degrees Celsius, which is 44 times higher than that without the Zeeman slowing light. The flux of rubidium is also as high as 2.3 × 10 9 atoms/s with the rubidium oven held at room temperature. Meanwhile, the entire vacuum-chamber system, including an ultra-high-vacuum science cell, is within a small volume of 65 × 55 × 70 cm 3 . Our work represents a substantial improvement over traditional bulky and complex dual-species cold-atom setups. It provides a good starting point for the fast production of a double-degenerate lithium-rubidium atomic mixture and large samples of ultracold lithium-rubidium ground-state molecules.
We have successfully implemented the first simultaneous magneto-optical trapping (MOT) of lithium (6^66Li) and ytterbium (174^{174}174Yb) atoms, towards production of ultracold polar molecules of LiYb. For this purpose, we developed the dual atomic oven which contains both atomic species as an atom source and successfully observed the spectra of the Li and Yb atoms in the atomic beams from the dual atomic oven. We constructed the vacuum chamber including the glass cell with the windows made of zinc selenium (ZnSe) for the CO2_22​ lasers, which are the useful light sources of optical trapping for evaporative and sympathetic cooling. Typical atom numbers and temperatures in the compressed MOT are 7×103\times10^3×103 atoms, 640 μ\muμK for 6^66Li, 7×104\times10^4×104 atoms and 60 μ\muμK for 174^{174}174Yb, respectively.
We have used the narrow $2{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{P}_{3/2}$ transition in the ultraviolet (uv) to laser cool and magneto-optically trap (MOT) 6{}^{6}6Li atoms. Laser cooling of lithium is usually performed on the $2{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2{P}_{3/2}$ (D2) transition, and temperatures of $\ensuremath{\sim}$300 $\ensuremath{\mu}$K are typically achieved. The linewidth of the uv transition is seven times narrower than the D2 line, resulting in lower laser cooling temperatures. We demonstrate that a MOT operating on the uv transition reaches temperatures as low as 59 $\ensuremath{\mu}$K. Furthermore, we find that the light shift of the uv transition in an optical dipole trap at 1070 nm is small and blueshifted, facilitating efficient loading from the uv MOT. Evaporative cooling of a two spin-state mixture of 6{}^{6}6Li in the optical trap produces a quantum degenerate Fermi gas with $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms in a total cycle time of only 11 s.
Integrating two chemically distinct atomic species into a miniaturized, high-flux cold-atom source is a key challenge for modern experiments with ultracold atomic mixtures and polar molecules.Here, we report a compact setup with in-series two-dimensional magneto-optical traps (2D MOTs) that provides high-flux cold lithium and rubidium atoms.Thanks to the efficient short-distance Zeeman slowing, the maximum 3D MOT loading rate of lithium atoms reaches a record value of 6.6 × 10 9 atoms/s at a moderate lithium-oven temperature of 372 degrees Celsius, which is 44 times higher than that without the Zeeman slowing light.The flux of rubidium is also as high as 2.3 × 10 9 atoms/s with the rubidium oven held at room temperature.Meanwhile, the entire vacuum-chamber system, including an ultra-high-vacuum science cell, is within a small volume of 65 × 55 × 70 cm 3 .Our work represents a substantial improvement over traditional bulky and complex dual-species cold-atom setups.It provides a good starting point for the fast production of a double-degenerate lithium-rubidium atomic mixture and large samples of ultracold lithium-rubidium ground-state molecules.
We have used the narrow 2 S 1/2 [arrow right] 3 P 3/2 transition in the ultraviolet (UV) to laser cool and magneto-optically trap (MOT) 6 Li atoms. Laser cooling of lithium atoms is usually performed on the 2 S 1/2 [arrow right] 2 P 3/2 (D2) transition, where temperatures of twice the Doppler limit, or ∼300 μ K for lithium, are achieved. The linewidth of the UV transition is seven times narrower than the D2 line, resulting in a lower Doppler limit. We show that a MOT operating on the UV transition reaches temperatures as low as 59 μ K. We load 6 million atoms from this UV MOT into a 1070 nm optical dipole trap (ODT). We show that the light shift of the UV transition in the ODT is small and blue-shifted, facilitating efficient loading. Evaporative cooling of a two spin-state mixture of 6 Li in the ODT produces a quantum degenerate Fermi gas with 3 million atoms in only 11 seconds.
This thesis describes the advances made towards a dual-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) of Li and Rb for use in photoassociation spectroscopy, Feshbach resonance studies, and, as long-term aspirations, the formation of ultracold heteronuclear polar molecules. The initial discussion will focus on a brief theoretical overview of laser cooling and trapping and the production of ultracold molecules from a cold atom source. Subsequently, details of the experimental system, including those pertaining to the required laser light, the vacuum chamber, and the computer control system will be presented. Finally, preliminary optimization and characterization measurements showing the performance of a single species Li MOT are introduced. These measurements demonstrated the loading of over 8 x 107 Li atoms directly into a MOT without the need for a Zeeman slower.