We present first indications of sympathetic cooling between two neutral, optically trapped atomic species. Lithium and cesium atoms are simultaneously stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO $_2$ laser, and allowed to interact for a given period of time. The temperature of the lithium gas is found to decrease when in thermal contact with cold cesium. The timescale of thermalization yields an estimate for the Li-Cs cross-section.We present first indications of sympathetic cooling between two neutral, optically trapped atomic species. Lithium and cesium atoms are simultaneously stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO$_2$ laser, and allowed to interact for a given period of time. The temperature of the lithium gas is found to decrease when in thermal contact with cold cesium. The timescale of thermalization yields an estimate for the Li-Cs cross-section.

arXiv:physics/0109069Laser SpectroscopyJun 1, 20020 citations

Tunable Interactions in Bose and Fermi Gases of Lithium

Randall G. Hulet

APSMay 1, 20030 citations

Cooling a Bose Fermi Mixture of Lithium Atoms to Quantum Degeneracy

Kevin E. Strecker, Andrew G. Truscott, Randall G. Hulet

APSOct 1, 20000 citations

SYMPATHETIC COOLING OF LITHIUM BY LASER-COOLED CESIUM

Stephan Kraft, Marcel Carto Constantin Mudrich, Kilian Singer +3 more

We present first indications of sympathetic cooling between two neutral trapped atomic species. Lithium and cesium atoms are simultaneously stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO2 laser, and allowed to interact for a given period of time. The temperature of the lithium gas is found to decrease when in thermal contact with cold cesium. The timescale of thermalization yields an estimate for the Li-Cs cross-section. Mixtures of atomic gases enrich the field of physics with ultracold gases by making many interesting phenomena available for experimental study. A prime example is the exchange of thermal energy between different components in the mixture. This cross-thermalization can be used for determining inter-species collision cross-sections, and, more importantly, for sympathetic cooling. The process of sympathetic cooling, where the gas of interest is cooled through thermalization with a coolant gas, is especially advantageous if the cooled gas (Li in our case) is hard to cool by other methods, while the coolant gas (Cs) allows for efficient laser cooling. The Li can only beWe present first indications of sympathetic cooling between two neutral trapped atomic species. Lithium and cesium atoms are simultaneously stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO2 laser, and allowed to interact for a given period of time. The temperature of the lithium gas is found to decrease when in thermal contact with cold cesium. The timescale of thermalization yields an estimate for the Li-Cs cross-section. Mixtures of atomic gases enrich the field of physics with ultracold gases by making many interesting phenomena available for experimental study. A prime example is the exchange of thermal energy between different components in the mixture. This cross-thermalization can be used for determining inter-species collision cross-sections, and, more importantly, for sympathetic cooling. The process of sympathetic cooling, where the gas of interest is cooled through thermalization with a coolant gas, is especially advantageous if the cooled gas (Li in our case) is hard to cool by other methods, while the coolant gas (Cs) allows for efficient laser cooling. The Li can only be

Jan 1, 20010 citations

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laser, and allowed to interact for a given period of time. The temperature of the lithium gas is found to decrease when in thermal contact with cold cesium. The timescale of thermalization yields an estimate for the Li-Cs cross-section.