We report on the realization of a mixture of fermionic $^{161}\mathrm{Dy}$ and fermionic $^{40}\mathrm{K}$ where both species are deep in the quantum-degenerate regime. Both components are spin polarized in their absolute ground states, and the low temperatures are achieved by means of evaporative cooling of the dipolar dysprosium atoms together with sympathetic cooling of the potassium atoms. We describe the trapping and cooling methods, in particular the final evaporation stage, which leads to Fermi degeneracy of both species. Analyzing cross-species thermalization we obtain an estimate of the magnitude of the interspecies $s$ -wave scattering length at low magnetic field. We demonstrate magnetic levitation of the mixture as a tool to ensure spatial overlap of the two components. The properties of the Dy-K mixture make it a very promising candidate to explore the physics of strongly interacting mass-imbalanced Fermi-Fermi mixtures.We report on the realization of a mixture of fermionic $^{161}\mathrm{Dy}$ and fermionic $^{40}\mathrm{K}$ where both species are deep in the quantum-degenerate regime. Both components are spin polarized in their absolute ground states, and the low temperatures are achieved by means of evaporative cooling of the dipolar dysprosium atoms together with sympathetic cooling of the potassium atoms. We describe the trapping and cooling methods, in particular the final evaporation stage, which leads to Fermi degeneracy of both species. Analyzing cross-species thermalization we obtain an estimate of the magnitude of the interspecies $s$-wave scattering length at low magnetic field. We demonstrate magnetic levitation of the mixture as a tool to ensure spatial overlap of the two components. The properties of the Dy-K mixture make it a very promising candidate to explore the physics of strongly interacting mass-imbalanced Fermi-Fermi mixtures.

arXiv:1810.13437Physical Review ADec 20, 201865 citations

Two-species five-beam magneto-optical trap for erbium and dysprosium

P. Ilzhöfer, Gianmaria Durastante, A. Patscheider +3 more

We report on the first realization of a two-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) for the highly magnetic erbium and dysprosium atoms. The MOT operates on an intercombination line for the respective species. Owing to the narrow-line character of such a cooling transition and the action of gravity, we demonstrate a trap geometry employing only five beams in the orthogonal configuration. We observe that the mixture is cooled and trapped very efficiently, with up to $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ Er atoms and ${10}^{9}$ Dy atoms at temperatures of about 10 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$. Our results offer an ideal starting condition for the creation of a dipolar quantum mixture of highly magnetic atoms.We report on the first realization of a two-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) for the highly magnetic erbium and dysprosium atoms. The MOT operates on an intercombination line for the respective species. Owing to the narrow-line character of such a cooling transition and the action of gravity, we demonstrate a trap geometry employing only five beams in the orthogonal configuration. We observe that the mixture is cooled and trapped very efficiently, with up to $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ Er atoms and ${10}^{9}$ Dy atoms at temperatures of about 10 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$. Our results offer an ideal starting condition for the creation of a dipolar quantum mixture of highly magnetic atoms.

arXiv:1711.07378Physical Review AFeb 26, 201850 citations

Compact dual MOT apparatus of K and Rb for optical tweezer experiment

Kang Wei, Yangbo Wei, Shangjin Li +1 more

Abstract The optical tweezer experiment with neutral atoms is widely used for quantum information research. Here, we present a compact dual magneto-optical trap (MOT) setup for a two-species optical tweezer. Rubidium (Rb) atoms are directly captured using a vapor MOT, while potassium (K) atoms are collected via a 2-stage MOT. Both the quadratic and gradient magnetic fields required for the MOT and Zeeman slower are created by permanent magnets. With the help of the Zeeman slower, the K MOT loading efficiency is enhanced by a factor of three. After the MOT stage, we apply D 1 gray molasses to reduce the temperature of the K atoms to 9 μK. Using this apparatus, both Rb and K are loaded into the optical tweezer.Abstract The optical tweezer experiment with neutral atoms is widely used for quantum information research. Here, we present a compact dual magneto-optical trap (MOT) setup for a two-species optical tweezer. Rubidium (Rb) atoms are directly captured using a vapor MOT, while potassium (K) atoms are collected via a 2-stage MOT. Both the quadratic and gradient magnetic fields required for the MOT and Zeeman slower are created by permanent magnets. With the help of the Zeeman slower, the K MOT loading efficiency is enhanced by a factor of three. After the MOT stage, we apply D 1 gray molasses to reduce the temperature of the K atoms to 9 μK. Using this apparatus, both Rb and K are loaded into the optical tweezer.

Chinese Physics BJun 26, 20250 citations

Towards strongly interacting fermionic potassium

Alma Bardon, Nathan Cheng, Boris Braverman +2 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 15, 20110 citations

We report on the realization of a mixture of fermionic

^{161}\mathrm{Dy}

and fermionic

^{40}\mathrm{K}

where both species are deep in the quantum-degenerate regime. Both components are spin polarized in their absolute ground states, and the low temperatures are achieved by means of evaporative cooling of the dipolar dysprosium atoms together with sympathetic cooling of the potassium atoms. We describe the trapping and cooling methods, in particular the final evaporation stage, which leads to Fermi degeneracy of both species. Analyzing cross-species thermalization we obtain an estimate of the magnitude of the interspecies

s

-wave scattering length at low magnetic field. We demonstrate magnetic levitation of the mixture as a tool to ensure spatial overlap of the two components. The properties of the Dy-K mixture make it a very promising candidate to explore the physics of strongly interacting mass-imbalanced Fermi-Fermi mixtures.

{10}^{9}

Dy atoms at temperatures of about 10 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$. Our results offer an ideal starting condition for the creation of a dipolar quantum mixture of highly magnetic atoms.