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arXiv:2606.23958

Dual-isotope narrow-line MOT of dysprosium by phase modulation

M. Dürbeck, L. Reihs, J. Seifert, B. Choudhari, J. P. Marulanda-Serna, N. Werum, Marco De Pas, Gerard Meijer, G. Valtolina

Published Jun 22, 2026• 0 citations

Abstract

We report on the characterization of a narrow-line magneto-optical trap (MOT), where two different isotopes of the dysprosium (Dy) atom can be simultaneously loaded and trapped. We rely on phase modulation via high-power, free-space electro-optic modulators (EOMs) to generate optical sidebands at the correct detuning for two different isotopes. This technique is applied on the slowing transition at 421 nm and the MOT transition at 626 nm. Using modular resonant electronic circuits, we match the sideband separation to the isotope shift among the two target isotopes, realizing mixtures of the bosonic isotopes 164Dy -162Dy and 162Dy -160Dy. We exploit the interplay between radiation forces and gravity in the narrow-line MOT to control the spatial position of the two isotopes with the EOM drive frequency. We demonstrate full control of the isotopic mixture with the EOM drive, offering new and cost-effective capabilities for controlling mixtures of atomic species that can be trapped in a narrow-line MOT.

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2606.23958

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We report on the characterization of a narrow-line magneto-optical trap (MOT), where two different isotopes of the dysprosium (Dy) atom can be simultaneously loaded and trapped. We rely on phase modulation via high-power, free-space electro-optic modulators (EOMs) to generate optical sidebands at the correct detuning for two different isotopes. This technique is applied on the slowing transition at 421 nm and the MOT transition at 626 nm. Using modular resonant electronic circuits, we match the sideband separation to the isotope shift among the two target isotopes, realizing mixtures of the bosonic isotopes 164Dy -162Dy and 162Dy -160Dy. We exploit the interplay between radiation forces and gravity in the narrow-line MOT to control the spatial position of the two isotopes with the EOM drive frequency. We demonstrate full control of the isotopic mixture with the EOM drive, offering new and cost-effective capabilities for controlling mixtures of atomic species that can be trapped in a narrow-line MOT.

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We present our technique to create a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for dysprosium atoms using the narrow-line cooling transition at 626 nm to achieve suitable conditions for direct loading into an optical dipole trap. The MOT is loaded from an atomic beam via a Zeeman slower using the strongest atomic transition at 421 nm. With this combination of two cooling transitions we can trap up to 2.0·10(8) atoms at temperatures down to 6 μK. This cooling approach is simpler than present work with ultracold dysprosium and provides similar starting conditions for a transfer to an optical dipole trap.

We report on the first realization of a two-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) for the highly magnetic erbium and dysprosium atoms. The MOT operates on an intercombination line for the respective species. Owing to the narrow-line character of such a cooling transition and the action of gravity, we demonstrate a trap geometry employing only five beams in the orthogonal configuration. We observe that the mixture is cooled and trapped very efficiently, with up to $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ Er atoms and

{10}^{9}

Dy atoms at temperatures of about 10 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$. Our results offer an ideal starting condition for the creation of a dipolar quantum mixture of highly magnetic atoms.

We report on a scheme for loading dysprosium atoms into a narrow-line three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D MOT). Our approach replaces the conventional Zeeman slower with a two-dimensional (2D) MOT operating on the broad 421-nm line to create a high-flux beam of slow atoms. Even in the absence of a push beam, we demonstrate efficient loading of the 3D MOT, which operates on the narrower 626-nm intercombination line. Adding push beams working at either 421 nm or 626 nm, significant enhancement of the loading rate is achieved. We reach the best performance, with an enhancement factor of 3.6, using a push beam red-detuned to the 626-nm line. With loading rates greater than

{10}^{8}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{atoms/s}

achieved at a moderate oven reservoir temperature of ${800}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{C}$, our method offers similar or greater performance than Zeeman-slower-based systems. Our 2D-MOT-based approach constitutes a promising first step towards state-of-the-art quantum gas experiments with several advantages over the Zeeman-slower-based setup and is readily adaptable to other open-shell lanthanides.

We present our technique to create a magneto-optical trap for dysprosium atoms using the narrow-line cooling transition at 626

\,

nm to achieve suitable conditions for direct loading into an optical dipole trap. The magneto-optical trap is loaded from an atomic beam via a Zeeman slower using the strongest atomic transition at 421

\,

nm. With this combination of two cooling transitions we can trap up to

2.0\cdot10^8

atoms at temperatures down to 6

\, \mu

K. This cooling approach is simpler than present work with ultracold dysprosium and provides similar starting conditions for a transfer to an optical dipole trap.

Magneto-optical traps (MOTs) of highly magnetic lanthanides open the door to explorations of novel phases of strongly correlated matter such as lattice supersolids and quantum liquid crystals. We recently reported the first MOTs of the five high-abundance isotopes of the most magnetic atom, dysprosium. Described here are details of the experimental technique employed for repumper-free Dy MOTs containing up to half a billion atoms. Extensive characterization of the MOTs' properties---population, temperature, loading, metastable decay dynamics, and trap dynamics---is provided.