We describe a model of inelastic and elastic collisional dynamics of atoms in an optical dipole trap that utilizes numerical evaluation of statistical mechanical quantities and numerical solution of equations for the evolution of number and temperature of trapped atoms. It can be used for traps that possess little spatial symmetry and when the ratio of trap depth to sample temperature is relatively small. We compare simulation results with experiments on $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$ and $^{84}\mathrm{Sr}$ , which have well-characterized collisional properties.We describe a model of inelastic and elastic collisional dynamics of atoms in an optical dipole trap that utilizes numerical evaluation of statistical mechanical quantities and numerical solution of equations for the evolution of number and temperature of trapped atoms. It can be used for traps that possess little spatial symmetry and when the ratio of trap depth to sample temperature is relatively small. We compare simulation results with experiments on $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$ and $^{84}\mathrm{Sr}$, which have well-characterized collisional properties.

arXiv:0905.2223Physical Review AMar 9, 201116 citations

A New Optical Trap System for Ultracold Strontium

Ying Huang

Atoms can be trapped at the foci of intense laser beams, which can enable the study of interactions and dynamics of ultracold gases. In this thesis, we will describe our\nnew trap designs. A large volume pancake-shaped optical dipole trap is initially used for loading large numbers of atoms from a Magneto-Optical Trap. A BEC with a large number of 84 Sr atoms has been achieved after evaporation in this trap. To form degenerate gas of 88 Sr we compress the mixture of 88 Sr and 87 Sr from the loading trap\ninto a superimposed dimple trap. This combination improves the reproducibility of the experiment and shortens the time required to create quantum degenerate samples,\nwhile we are able to create 88 Sr BEC with high density. In order to generate BEC of 86 Sr, an isotope with large scattering length and extremely high three-body loss\nrate, we implement an optical sheet trap which has an aspect ratio of 1:10. The tight axis in the vertical direction provides strong potential to hold against gravity while the large horizontal dimension brings up the trap volume and keeps down the atomic\ndensity.Atoms can be trapped at the foci of intense laser beams, which can enable the study of interactions and dynamics of ultracold gases. In this thesis, we will describe our\nnew trap designs. A large volume pancake-shaped optical dipole trap is initially used for loading large numbers of atoms from a Magneto-Optical Trap. A BEC with a large number of 84 Sr atoms has been achieved after evaporation in this trap. To form degenerate gas of 88 Sr we compress the mixture of 88 Sr and 87 Sr from the loading trap\ninto a superimposed dimple trap. This combination improves the reproducibility of the experiment and shortens the time required to create quantum degenerate samples,\nwhile we are able to create 88 Sr BEC with high density. In order to generate BEC of 86 Sr, an isotope with large scattering length and extremely high three-body loss\nrate, we implement an optical sheet trap which has an aspect ratio of 1:10. The tight axis in the vertical direction provides strong potential to hold against gravity while the large horizontal dimension brings up the trap volume and keeps down the atomic\ndensity.

Dec 4, 20131 citation

^{88}\mathrm{Sr}

and

^{84}\mathrm{Sr}

, which have well-characterized collisional properties.