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Physical Review A

Magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms and a limit on the branching ratio of the 1P1 state

Keita HONDA, Yoshiro Takahashi, T. Kuwamoto, M. Fujimoto, K. Toyoda, Kiyoshi Ishikawa, T. Yabuzaki

Published Feb 1, 1999• 84 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have succeeded in magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms decelerated by a Zeeman slower method. The number of the trapped atoms is more than about $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ measured by light absorption. We have found the evidence of the branching from the ${}^{1}{P}_{1}$ excited state to triplet states, and determined the lower limit on the branching ratio to be $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}.$

DOI
10.1103/physreva.59.r934

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We have succeeded in magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms decelerated by a Zeeman slower method. The number of the trapped atoms is more than about 1.3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1061.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}1.3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi106 measured by light absorption. We have found the evidence of the branching from the 1P1{}^{1}{P}_{1}1P1​ excited state to triplet states, and determined the lower limit on the branching ratio to be 1.2\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−7.1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}.1.2\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−7.
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We report the realization of ytterbium magneto-optical trap (MOT) operating on the dipole-allowed 1 S 0 — 1 P 1 transition at 398.9 nm. The MOT is loaded by a slowed atomic beam produced by a Zeeman slower. All seven stable isotopes of Yb atoms could be trapped separately at different laser detuning values. Over 10 7 174 Yb atoms are collected in the MOT, whereas the atom number of fermionic isotope 171 Yb is roughly 2.3 × 10 6 due to a lower abundance. Without the Zeeman slower, the trapped atom numbers are one order of magnitude lower. Both the even and odd isotopes are recognized as excellent candidates of optical clock transition, so the cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms by the blue MOT is an important step for building an optical clock.
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Thulium atoms are trapped in a magneto-optical trap using a strong transition at 410410410 nm with a small branching ratio. We trap up to $7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms at a temperature of 0.8(2)0.8(2)0.8(2) mK after deceleration in a 404040-cm-long Zeeman slower. Optical leaks from the cooling cycle influence the lifetime of atoms in the magneto-optical trap which varies between 0.30.30.3 and 1.51.51.5 s in our experiments. The lower limit for the leaking rate from the upper cooling level is measured to be 22(6)22(6)22(6) ${\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The repumping laser transferring the atomic population out of the F=3F=3F=3 hyperfine ground-state sublevel gives a 3030%30 increase for the lifetime and the number of atoms in the trap.