We study light-assisted collisions in an ensemble containing a small number ($\ensuremath{\sim}$3) of cold ${}^{87}$ Rb atoms trapped in a microscopic dipole trap. Using our ability to operate with one atom exactly in the trap, we measure the one-body heating rate associated with a near-resonant laser excitation, and we use this measurement to extract the two-body loss rate associated with light-assisted collisions when a few atoms are present in the trap. Our measurements indicate that the two-body loss rate can reach surprisingly large values $\ensuremath{\beta}>{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ cm ${}^{3}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and varies rapidly with the trap depth and the parameters of the excitation light.We study light-assisted collisions in an ensemble containing a small number ($\ensuremath{\sim}$3) of cold ${}^{87}$Rb atoms trapped in a microscopic dipole trap. Using our ability to operate with one atom exactly in the trap, we measure the one-body heating rate associated with a near-resonant laser excitation, and we use this measurement to extract the two-body loss rate associated with light-assisted collisions when a few atoms are present in the trap. Our measurements indicate that the two-body loss rate can reach surprisingly large values $\ensuremath{\beta}>{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ cm${}^{3}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and varies rapidly with the trap depth and the parameters of the excitation light.

arXiv:1107.5781Physical Review AJun 25, 201259 citations

Laser modification of ultracold collisions

Paul D. Lett, Poul Jessen, William D. Phillips +3 more

Physical Review LettersJan 1, 19911 citation

Large light-assisted collision rates between cold atoms in a microscopic dipole trap

Andreas Fuhrmanek, Ronan Bourgain, Yvan R. P. Sortais +1 more

We study light-assisted collisions in an ensemble containing a small number (~3) of cold Rb87 atoms trapped in a microscopic dipole trap. Using our ability to operate with one atom exactly in the trap, we measure the one-body heating rate associated to a near-resonant laser excitation, and we use this measurement to extract the two-body loss rate associated to light-assisted collisions when a few atoms are present in the trap. Our measurements indicate that the two-body loss rate can reach surprisingly large values beta>10^{-8} cm^{3}.s^{-1} and varies rapidly with the trap depth and the parameters of the excitation light.We study light-assisted collisions in an ensemble containing a small number (~3) of cold Rb87 atoms trapped in a microscopic dipole trap. Using our ability to operate with one atom exactly in the trap, we measure the one-body heating rate associated to a near-resonant laser excitation, and we use this measurement to extract the two-body loss rate associated to light-assisted collisions when a few atoms are present in the trap. Our measurements indicate that the two-body loss rate can reach surprisingly large values beta>10^{-8} cm^{3}.s^{-1} and varies rapidly with the trap depth and the parameters of the excitation light.

Jul 28, 20110 citations

We study light-assisted collisions in an ensemble containing a small number ($\ensuremath{\sim}$3) of cold

{}^{87}

Rb atoms trapped in a microscopic dipole trap. Using our ability to operate with one atom exactly in the trap, we measure the one-body heating rate associated with a near-resonant laser excitation, and we use this measurement to extract the two-body loss rate associated with light-assisted collisions when a few atoms are present in the trap. Our measurements indicate that the two-body loss rate can reach surprisingly large values $\ensuremath{\beta}>{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ cm

{}^{3}

s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and varies rapidly with the trap depth and the parameters of the excitation light.