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Physical Review A

Power-dependent loss from an ytterbium magneto-optic trap

Thomas H. Loftus, Jason R. Bochinski, Robert William Shivitz, THOMAS W. MOSSBERG

Published Apr 7, 2000• 42 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Radiative decay of excited ${}^{1}{P}_{1}$ states to metastables is expected to limit attainable lifetimes in magneto-optic traps (MOTs) containing alkaline-earth-metal-like atoms. We present measurements of power-dependent loss from a ${(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}$ ytterbium MOT, show that the observed power dependence is consistent with radiative decay from the ${(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}$ excited state leading to population of lower-lying metastable states, and determine the ${(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}$-to-metastable state decay rate. With weak excitation of the ${(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}$ trapping transition, MOT lifetimes approaching 800 ms are observed.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.61.051401

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Radiative decay of excited 1P1{}^{1}{P}_{1}1P1​ states to metastables is expected to limit attainable lifetimes in magneto-optic traps (MOTs) containing alkaline-earth-metal-like atoms. We present measurements of power-dependent loss from a (6s2)1S0\ensuremath−(6s6p)1P1{(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}(6s2)1S0​\ensuremath−(6s6p)1P1​ ytterbium MOT, show that the observed power dependence is consistent with radiative decay from the (6s6p)1P1{(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}(6s6p)1P1​ excited state leading to population of lower-lying metastable states, and determine the (6s6p)1P1{(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}(6s6p)1P1​-to-metastable state decay rate. With weak excitation of the (6s2)1S0\ensuremath−(6s6p)1P1{(6s}^{2}{)}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}(6s6p)}^{1}{P}_{1}(6s2)1S0​\ensuremath−(6s6p)1P1​ trapping transition, MOT lifetimes approaching 800 ms are observed.
Laser cooling and trapping of the heavy alkaline-earth-metal element barium has been achieved based on the strong $6{s}^{2}\text{ }{^{1}S}_{0}\text{\ensuremath{-}}6s6p\text{ }{^{1}P}_{1}$ transition. The excited state decays to a large fraction into metastable DDD states. Two schemes were implemented where three additional laser-driven transitions provide closed cooling cycles. This results in a fraction of 50(20)% of the trapped atoms in one of the metastable states. A total efficiency of $0.4(1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ for slowing a thermal atomic beam and capturing atoms into a magneto-optical trap was obtained. Trap lifetimes of more than 1.5 s were observed. They are shortened at high laser intensities by three photon photoionization losses. The developed scheme can be transferred to other systems with large leakage from the cooling transition, such as Ra which is interesting for sensitive fundamental symmetry research.
Radiative decay from the excited 1P1{}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{1}1P1​ state to metastable 3P2{}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{2}3P2​ and 3P0{}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{0}3P0​ states is expected to limit the attainable trapped atomic population in a magneto-optic trap of ytterbium (Yb) atoms. In experiments we have carried out with optical repumping of 3P0,2{}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{0,2}3P0,2​ states to 3P1{}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{1}3P1​, we observe an enhanced yield of trapped atoms in the excited 1P1{}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{1}1P1​ state. The individual decay rate to each metastable state is measured and the results show excellent agreement with the theoretical values.
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.
We demonstrate an accurate method for measuring the lifetime of long-lived metastable magnetic states using a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Through optical pumping, the metastable (3s3p) 3P1(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}(3s3p) 3P1​ level is populated in a standard MOT. During the optical pumping process, a fraction of the population is captured in the magnetic quadrupole field of the MOT. When the metastable atoms decay to the (3s2) 1S0(3{s}^{2})\text{ }{^{1}S}_{0}(3s2) 1S0​ ground state they are recaptured into the MOT. In this system no alternative cascading transition is possible. The lifetime of the metastable level is measured directly as an exponential load time of the MOT. We have experimentally tested our method by measuring the lifetime of the (3s3p) 3P1(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}(3s3p) 3P1​ of 24Mg^{24}\text{M}\text{g}24Mg. This lifetime has been measured numerous times previously, but with quite different results. Using our method we find the (3s3p) 3P1(3s3p)\text{ }{^{3}P}_{1}(3s3p) 3P1​ lifetime to be $(4.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\text{ }\text{ms}$. Theoretical values point toward a lower value for the lifetime.
Alkaline-earth-metal atoms present an ideal platform for exploring magneto-optic trap (MOT) dynamics, enabling unique and definitive tests of laser cooling and trapping mechanisms. We have measured the trapping beam intensity, detuning, magnetic-field gradient, trap density, and lifetime dependence of the spring constant $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ and damping coefficient $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ for a ${}^{1}{S}_{0}{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}{P}_{1}$ 88Sr{}^{88}\mathrm{Sr}88Sr MOT by fitting the oscillatory response of the atom cloud to a step-function force. We find that the observed behavior of $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ provide a unified and consistent picture of trap dynamics that agrees with Doppler cooling theory at the level of 1010%.10 Additionally, we demonstrate that the trapped atom temperature can be determined directly from measured value of $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ and the trap size, in excellent agreement with free-expansion temperature measurements. However, the experimentally determined temperature is much higher than Doppler cooling theory, implying significant additional heating mechanisms.
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 of170Yb,\mathrm{of}{ }^{170}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{b},of170Yb, 171Yb,{}^{171}\mathrm{Yb},171Yb, 172Yb,{}^{172}\mathrm{Yb},172Yb, 173Yb,{}^{173}\mathrm{Yb},173Yb, 174Yb,{}^{174}\mathrm{Yb},174Yb, and 176Yb{}^{176}\mathrm{Yb}176Yb are successfully trapped. The number and density of the trapped atoms are about 108{10}^{8}108 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.