Physical Review A

Simultaneous multi-isotope trapping of ytterbium

Thomas H. Loftus, Jason R. Bochinski, THOMAS W. MOSSBERG

Published Apr 10, 2001• 30 citations

Abstract

Working with ytterbium (Yb), we demonstrate dual-isotope magneto-optic traps of extreme experimental simplicity yet containing either fermion-boson or boson-boson isotope pairs. Pairs studied include ${}^{171}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}$ (a fermion-boson mixture) and ${}^{176}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}$ and ${}^{174}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}$ (boson-boson mixtures). Trapping is performed using the Yb ${(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}$ transition, an uncooled thermal source, and bichromatic trapping beams. Static and dynamic properties of the composite cloud are conveniently probed on the spin-forbidden ${(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{3}{P}_{1}$ transition. A unique strategy for continuously loading these samples into magnetic traps is described.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.63.053401

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Magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms using an intercombination transition

T. Kuwamoto, Keita HONDA, Yoshiro Takahashi +1 more

Physical Review AAug 1, 1999166 citations

Optical dipole force trapping of a fermion-boson mixture of ytterbium isotopes

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Optical dipole force trapping of a fermion-boson mixture of ytterbium isotopes

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Magnetic trapping of ytterbium and the alkaline-earth metals

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Physical Review A

Simultaneous multi-isotope trapping of ytterbium

Thomas H. Loftus, Jason R. Bochinski, THOMAS W. MOSSBERG

Published Apr 10, 2001• 30 citations

Publisher

Abstract

Working with ytterbium (Yb), we demonstrate dual-isotope magneto-optic traps of extreme experimental simplicity yet containing either fermion-boson or boson-boson isotope pairs. Pairs studied include

{}^{171}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}

(a fermion-boson mixture) and

{}^{176}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}

and

{}^{174}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}

(boson-boson mixtures). Trapping is performed using the Yb

{(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}

transition, an uncooled thermal source, and bichromatic trapping beams. Static and dynamic properties of the composite cloud are conveniently probed on the spin-forbidden

{(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{3}{P}_{1}

transition. A unique strategy for continuously loading these samples into magnetic traps is described.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.63.053401

Related papers

Magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms using an intercombination transition

T. Kuwamoto, Keita HONDA, Yoshiro Takahashi +1 more

We report the magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium atoms using the ${6s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}6s6p{}^{3}{P}_{1}$ intercombination transition. The magneto-optical trap is continuously loaded from an atomic beam decelerated by a Zeeman-tuned atomic-beam slower operated at the ${6s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}6s6p{}^{1}{P}_{1}$ transition. Among seven stable isotopes of ytterbium, six isotopes $\mathrm{of}{ }^{170}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b},$ ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{172}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb},$ and ${}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ are successfully trapped. The number and density of the trapped atoms are about ${10}^{8}$ and ${10}^{11} {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3},$ respectively. The temperature of atoms is estimated to be about $20 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ from the time-of-flight measurement. The decay time of the trapped atoms after stopping the loading of atoms is about 3 s.We report the magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium atoms using the ${6s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}6s6p{}^{3}{P}_{1}$ intercombination transition. The magneto-optical trap is continuously loaded from an atomic beam decelerated by a Zeeman-tuned atomic-beam slower operated at the ${6s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}6s6p{}^{1}{P}_{1}$ transition. Among seven stable isotopes of ytterbium, six isotopes $\mathrm{of}{ }^{170}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b},$ ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{172}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb},$ and ${}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}$ are successfully trapped. The number and density of the trapped atoms are about ${10}^{8}$ and ${10}^{11} {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3},$ respectively. The temperature of atoms is estimated to be about $20 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ from the time-of-flight measurement. The decay time of the trapped atoms after stopping the loading of atoms is about 3 s.

Physical Review AAug 1, 1999166 citations

Optical dipole force trapping of a fermion-boson mixture of ytterbium isotopes

Keita HONDA, Yosuke Takasu, T. Kuwamoto +3 more

We have succeeded in simultaneously trapping a fermion and boson isotope pair of ytterbium (Yb) in a far off-resonant trap (FORT). We have found evidence of elastic cross collisions between fermions and bosons, and performed a successful sympathetic cooling of the fermions. We could also enhance the loading of the fermions ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ in the crossing region in a crossed FORT via cross collisions between the fermions ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ and the bosons ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}.$ We have succeeded in simultaneously trapping a fermion and boson isotope pair of ytterbium (Yb) in a far off-resonant trap (FORT). We have found evidence of elastic cross collisions between fermions and bosons, and performed a successful sympathetic cooling of the fermions. We could also enhance the loading of the fermions ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ in the crossing region in a crossed FORT via cross collisions between the fermions ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ and the bosons ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}.$

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Kazuhito Honda, Yosuke Takasu, 剛桑本 +7 more

Aug 1, 20020 citations

Magnetic trapping of ytterbium and the alkaline-earth metals

Thomas H. Loftus, Jason R. Bochinski, THOMAS W. MOSSBERG

Atomic ytterbium (Yb), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and strontium (Sr) possess a simple yet versatile internal level structure and a diversity of naturally abundant fermionic and bosonic isotopes, making these systems ideal for studies of cold collisions and weakly interacting quantum degenerate gases. Unlike alkali-metal atoms, however, Yb, Mg, Ca, and Sr cannot be magnetically trapped in the ground state. We analyze a solution to this problem involving magnetic trapping in a low-lying metastable excited state and predict that significant magnetic trap populations can be obtained via continuous, in situ loading from Yb and Sr ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ magneto-optical traps.Atomic ytterbium (Yb), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and strontium (Sr) possess a simple yet versatile internal level structure and a diversity of naturally abundant fermionic and bosonic isotopes, making these systems ideal for studies of cold collisions and weakly interacting quantum degenerate gases. Unlike alkali-metal atoms, however, Yb, Mg, Ca, and Sr cannot be magnetically trapped in the ground state. We analyze a solution to this problem involving magnetic trapping in a low-lying metastable excited state and predict that significant magnetic trap populations can be obtained via continuous, in situ loading from Yb and Sr ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ magneto-optical traps.

Physical Review AJul 29, 200232 citations

Investigation of sub-Doppler cooling in an ytterbium magneto-optical trap

Reina H. Maruyama, R. H. Wynar, Michael V. Romalis +4 more

We report experimental evidence of Sisyphus cooling in atoms with a ${}^{1}{S}_{0}$ ground state. Since $J=0,$ any cooling mechanism which requires multiple sublevels can only occur in the isotopes which have nuclear spin $I\ensuremath{\ne}0.$ Ytterbium has seven stable isotopes and offers a unique system in which we can study cooling on $F=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}1$ ${(}^{168,170,172,174,176}\mathrm{Yb}),$ $F=1/\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}3/2$ ${(}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}),$ and $F=5/\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}7/2$ ${(}^{173}\mathrm{Yb}),$ depending on the selection of isotope. We have trapped each of the seven stable isotopes of ytterbium in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) using the strong ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ transition, and transferred them into a second MOT which uses the much narrower ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ intercombination transition. We have measured the temperature of isotopes ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},$ and ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}$ in the ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ MOT, as a function of the intensity and detuning of the trapping laser. The temperature of ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}$ was found to increase more rapidly with intensity than predicted by Doppler cooling theory, in agreement with earlier work on alkaline-earth atoms. In the odd isotopes the temperature was found to decrease with increasing angular momentum, as observed in earlier experiments and three-dimensional simulations.We report experimental evidence of Sisyphus cooling in atoms with a ${}^{1}{S}_{0}$ ground state. Since $J=0,$ any cooling mechanism which requires multiple sublevels can only occur in the isotopes which have nuclear spin $I\ensuremath{\ne}0.$ Ytterbium has seven stable isotopes and offers a unique system in which we can study cooling on $F=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}1$ ${(}^{168,170,172,174,176}\mathrm{Yb}),$ $F=1/\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}3/2$ ${(}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}),$ and $F=5/\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}7/2$ ${(}^{173}\mathrm{Yb}),$ depending on the selection of isotope. We have trapped each of the seven stable isotopes of ytterbium in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) using the strong ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ transition, and transferred them into a second MOT which uses the much narrower ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ intercombination transition. We have measured the temperature of isotopes ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},$ ${}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},$ and ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}$ in the ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ MOT, as a function of the intensity and detuning of the trapping laser. The temperature of ${}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}$ was found to increase more rapidly with intensity than predicted by Doppler cooling theory, in agreement with earlier work on alkaline-earth atoms. In the odd isotopes the temperature was found to decrease with increasing angular momentum, as observed in earlier experiments and three-dimensional simulations.

Physical Review AJul 25, 200375 citations

Isotope dependence of ytterbium Rydberg states

A Miethke, Lakshmi Priya Kozhiparambil Sajith, Axel Görlitz

Abstract In this work, we present a comprehensive experimental investigation of the isotope dependence of the binding energies of S - and D -Rydberg states in ytterbium. Using two-photon excitation via the intermediate 6 s 6 p 1 P 1 state in a magneto-optical trap, we measured excitation energies for the bosonic isotopes 172 Yb, 174 Yb, and 176 Yb, as well as for the fermionic isotopes 171 Yb ( I = 1 / 2 ) and 173 Yb ( I = 5 / 2 ), covering principal quantum numbers in the range 35 ⩽ n ⩽ 80 . For the bosonic isotopes, the isotope shifts are found to be independent of n , consistent with a single-channel quantum defect model. For 171 Yb, our results confirm previous high-precision measurements and multi-channel quantum defect modeling reported by Peper et al (2025), while for 173 Yb we provide the first detailed Rydberg spectra, revealing a complex level structure consistent with strong hyperfine-induced channel mixing and clearAbstract In this work, we present a comprehensive experimental investigation of the isotope dependence of the binding energies of S - and D -Rydberg states in ytterbium. Using two-photon excitation via the intermediate 6 s 6 p 1 P 1 state in a magneto-optical trap, we measured excitation energies for the bosonic isotopes 172 Yb, 174 Yb, and 176 Yb, as well as for the fermionic isotopes 171 Yb ( I = 1 / 2 ) and 173 Yb ( I = 5 / 2 ), covering principal quantum numbers in the range 35 ⩽ n ⩽ 80 . For the bosonic isotopes, the isotope shifts are found to be independent of n , consistent with a single-channel quantum defect model. For 171 Yb, our results confirm previous high-precision measurements and multi-channel quantum defect modeling reported by Peper et al (2025), while for 173 Yb we provide the first detailed Rydberg spectra, revealing a complex level structure consistent with strong hyperfine-induced channel mixing and clear

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJun 9, 20260 citations

Working with ytterbium (Yb), we demonstrate dual-isotope magneto-optic traps of extreme experimental simplicity yet containing either fermion-boson or boson-boson isotope pairs. Pairs studied include

{}^{171}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}

(a fermion-boson mixture) and

{}^{176}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}

and

{}^{174}{\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b}+}^{172}\mathrm{Yb}

(boson-boson mixtures). Trapping is performed using the Yb

{(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}

transition, an uncooled thermal source, and bichromatic trapping beams. Static and dynamic properties of the composite cloud are conveniently probed on the spin-forbidden

{(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{3}{P}_{1}

transition. A unique strategy for continuously loading these samples into magnetic traps is described.

\mathrm{of}{ }^{170}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b},

{}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},

{}^{172}\mathrm{Yb},

{}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},

{}^{174}\mathrm{Yb},

and

{}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}

are successfully trapped. The number and density of the trapped atoms are about

{10}^{8}

and ${10}^{11} {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3},$ respectively. The temperature of atoms is estimated to be about $20 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ from the time-of-flight measurement. The decay time of the trapped atoms after stopping the loading of atoms is about 3 s.

{}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}

in the crossing region in a crossed FORT via cross collisions between the fermions

{}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}

and the bosons

{}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}.

We report experimental evidence of Sisyphus cooling in atoms with a

{}^{1}{S}_{0}

ground state. Since

J=0,

any cooling mechanism which requires multiple sublevels can only occur in the isotopes which have nuclear spin $I\ensuremath{\ne}0.$ Ytterbium has seven stable isotopes and offers a unique system in which we can study cooling on $F=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}1$

{(}^{168,170,172,174,176}\mathrm{Yb}),

$F=1/\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}3/2$

{(}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}),

and $F=5/\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}7/2$

{(}^{173}\mathrm{Yb}),

depending on the selection of isotope. We have trapped each of the seven stable isotopes of ytterbium in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) using the strong ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ transition, and transferred them into a second MOT which uses the much narrower ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ intercombination transition. We have measured the temperature of isotopes

{}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},

{}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},

and

{}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}

in the ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{3}{P}_{1}$ MOT, as a function of the intensity and detuning of the trapping laser. The temperature of

{}^{174}\mathrm{Yb}

was found to increase more rapidly with intensity than predicted by Doppler cooling theory, in agreement with earlier work on alkaline-earth atoms. In the odd isotopes the temperature was found to decrease with increasing angular momentum, as observed in earlier experiments and three-dimensional simulations.