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arXiv:2607.28392

Optical Dipole Trap for Hg Atoms

I. Nandi, A. Sahu, M. Veis, A. Linek, R. Ciuryło, Marcin Witkowski

Published Jul 30, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report the first realization of an optical dipole trap (ODT) for ultracold mercury atoms, overcoming the challenge posed by the exceptionally low polarizability of Hg and the resulting weak optical trapping potential. We demonstrate the transfer of six naturally abundant Hg isotopes from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) into the ODT and characterize its loading dynamics, trap depth, and lifetime. Confinement of dense samples of ultracold Hg opens new opportunities for studies of isotope-dependent collisions and photoassociation and provides a route toward quantum degeneracy.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2607.28392

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We report the first realization of an optical dipole trap (ODT) for ultracold mercury atoms, overcoming the challenge posed by the exceptionally low polarizability of Hg and the resulting weak optical trapping potential. We demonstrate the transfer of six naturally abundant Hg isotopes from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) into the ODT and characterize its loading dynamics, trap depth, and lifetime. Confinement of dense samples of ultracold Hg opens new opportunities for studies of isotope-dependent collisions and photoassociation and provides a route toward quantum degeneracy.
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Abstract We study the cold collisions of mixed atoms in an optical dipole trap (ODT), which are loaded from a dark magneto-optical trap (MOT). A comprehensive, phenomenological rate equation is presented to derive the ultracold homonuclear and heteronuclear collision rates in loading and holding procedures. Our results show that the cold atoms in the dark MOT can provide a much better stable, initial atomic sample than MOT. The dependence of the heteronuclear collision rate on the trap depth is attributed to the hyperfine-changing collision by the ODT laser with a broad linewidth. The processes of deriving the collision rate are also universal for other kinds of atoms or even molecules.
We present a detailed experimental study of the physics involved in transferring atoms from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to an optical dipole trap. The loading is a dynamical process determined by a loading rate and a density dependent loss rate. The loading rate depends on cooling and the flux of atoms into the trapping volume, and the loss rate is due to excited state collisions induced by the MOT light fields. From this study we found ways to optimize the loading of the optical dipole trap. Key ingredients for maximum loading are found to be a reduction of the hyperfine repump intensity, increased detuning of the MOT light, and a displacement of the optical dipole trap center with respect to the MOT. A factor of 2 increase in the number of loaded atoms is demonstrated by using a hyperfine repump beam with a shadow in it. In this way we load $8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}{}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms into a 1 mK deep optical dipole trap with a waist of $58 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m},$ which is 40% of the atoms initially trapped in the MOT.