We report laser cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms in a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT). Benefited from both the broad singlet transition ( $^1\text{S}_0\rightarrow {}^1\text{P}_1$ ) and the narrow intercombination transition ( $^1\text{S}_0\rightarrow {}^3\text{P}_1$ ) of ytterbium atoms, the two-color MOT enables rapid loading and efficient cooling. We systematically investigate the shielding effect of the intercombination transition by examining the atom loading and loss rates of single-color and two-color MOTs. Our findings are general and can be extended to other alkaline earth(-like) atoms.We report laser cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms in a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT). Benefited from both the broad singlet transition ($^1\text{S}_0\rightarrow {}^1\text{P}_1$) and the narrow intercombination transition ($^1\text{S}_0\rightarrow {}^3\text{P}_1$) of ytterbium atoms, the two-color MOT enables rapid loading and efficient cooling. We systematically investigate the shielding effect of the intercombination transition by examining the atom loading and loss rates of single-color and two-color MOTs. Our findings are general and can be extended to other alkaline earth(-like) atoms.

arXiv:2503.24383Physical Review AppliedSep 19, 20252 citations

Laser cooling and trapping of atomic ytterbium

Thomas H. Loftus

Dec 1, 20017 citations

Laser cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms

Xinye Xu, Wenli Wang, Qinghong Zhou +8 more

物理学前沿：英文版May 4, 200915 citations

Two-color magneto-optical trap with small magnetic field for ytterbium

Akio Kawasaki, Boris Braverman, QinQin Yu +1 more

Abstract We report a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT) for ytterbium atoms where the slowing and trapping functions are separately performed by the singlet transition light ( ) and the triplet transition light ( ), respectively. The two-color MOT is achieved by simultaneously applying laser light on both the broad-linewidth singlet transition and the narrow-linewidth triplet transition. It is highly robust against laser power imbalance even at very low magnetic field gradients, and can operate at magnetic field gradients down to 2 G cm −1 where a conventional MOT using the singlet transition is unable to trap atoms. We load and trap up to atoms directly from an atomic beam at 700 K.Abstract We report a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT) for ytterbium atoms where the slowing and trapping functions are separately performed by the singlet transition light ( ) and the triplet transition light ( ), respectively. The two-color MOT is achieved by simultaneously applying laser light on both the broad-linewidth singlet transition and the narrow-linewidth triplet transition. It is highly robust against laser power imbalance even at very low magnetic field gradients, and can operate at magnetic field gradients down to 2 G cm −1 where a conventional MOT using the singlet transition is unable to trap atoms. We load and trap up to atoms directly from an atomic beam at 700 K.

arXiv:1502.07240Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJun 26, 201522 citations

Techniques in laser cooling and trapping of atomic ytterbium

Robert William Shivitz

Jan 1, 20030 citations

Compact structures for single-beam magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium

Julian Pick, R. Schwarz, J. Kruse +2 more

At present, the best optical lattice clocks are based on the spectroscopy of trapped alkaline-earth-like atoms such as ytterbium and strontium. The development of mobile or even space-borne clocks necessitates concepts for the compact laser-cooling and trapping of these atoms with reduced laser requirements. Here, we present two compact and robust achromatic mirror structures for single-beam magneto-optical trapping of alkaline-earth-like atoms using two widely separated optical cooling frequencies. We have compared the trapping and cooling performance of a monolithic aluminum structure that generates a conventional trap geometry to a quasi-planar platform based on a periodic mirror structure for different isotopes of Yb. Compared to prior work with strontium in non-conventional traps, where only bosons were trapped on a narrow line transition, we demonstrate two-stage cooling and trapping of a fermionic alkaline-earth-like isotope in a single-beam quasi-planar structure.At present, the best optical lattice clocks are based on the spectroscopy of trapped alkaline-earth-like atoms such as ytterbium and strontium. The development of mobile or even space-borne clocks necessitates concepts for the compact laser-cooling and trapping of these atoms with reduced laser requirements. Here, we present two compact and robust achromatic mirror structures for single-beam magneto-optical trapping of alkaline-earth-like atoms using two widely separated optical cooling frequencies. We have compared the trapping and cooling performance of a monolithic aluminum structure that generates a conventional trap geometry to a quasi-planar platform based on a periodic mirror structure for different isotopes of Yb. Compared to prior work with strontium in non-conventional traps, where only bosons were trapped on a narrow line transition, we demonstrate two-stage cooling and trapping of a fermionic alkaline-earth-like isotope in a single-beam quasi-planar structure.

arXiv:2403.07446Review of Scientific InstrumentsJul 1, 202410 citations

We report laser cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms in a two-color magneto-optical trap (MOT). Benefited from both the broad singlet transition (

^1\text{S}_0\rightarrow {}^1\text{P}_1

) and the narrow intercombination transition (

^1\text{S}_0\rightarrow {}^3\text{P}_1

) of ytterbium atoms, the two-color MOT enables rapid loading and efficient cooling. We systematically investigate the shielding effect of the intercombination transition by examining the atom loading and loss rates of single-color and two-color MOTs. Our findings are general and can be extended to other alkaline earth(-like) atoms.