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arXiv:2012.00699 · Physical Review A

Lithium-cesium slow beam from a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap

Y.-D. Chen, W.-X. Li, M.-E. Chou, C.-H. Kuo, C.-S. Li, Shih-Kuang Tung

Published Feb 8, 2021• 6 citations
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Abstract

We present the creation of a lithium-cesium slow beam using a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap. The two-species atomic beam is directed to load a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap in ultrahigh vacuum. We achieve a loading rate of $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ lithium atoms/s with the lithium oven temperature at $370{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$ and $2.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ cesium atoms/s with the Cs oven temperature at $20{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$. The maximum numbers of lithium and cesium atoms in the trap are $1.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9}$ and $1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$, respectively. Our results show that the simple and compact two-dimensional magneto-optical trap is suitable for producing an atomic beam of two species that have a large mass ratio and very different volatilities.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.103.023102

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We present the creation of a lithium-cesium slow beam using a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap. The two-species atomic beam is directed to load a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap in ultrahigh vacuum. We achieve a loading rate of 1.3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1071.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}1.3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi107 lithium atoms/s with the lithium oven temperature at 370\ensuremath∘C370{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}370\ensuremath∘C and 2.2\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1072.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}2.2\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi107 cesium atoms/s with the Cs oven temperature at 20\ensuremath∘C20{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}20\ensuremath∘C. The maximum numbers of lithium and cesium atoms in the trap are 1.0\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1091.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9}1.0\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi109 and 1.4\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1081.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}1.4\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi108, respectively. Our results show that the simple and compact two-dimensional magneto-optical trap is suitable for producing an atomic beam of two species that have a large mass ratio and very different volatilities.
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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.
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.
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