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Blue laser cooling transitions in Tm I

N. Kolachevsky

Published Nov 27, 2012• 25 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We have studied possible candidates for laser cooling transitions in 169 Tm in the spectral region 410 –420 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy we have measured the hyperfine structure and rates of two nearly closed cycling transitions from the ground state 4f 13 6s 2 ( 2 F0)(Jg = 7/2) to upper states 4f 12 ( 3 H5)5d3/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 410.6 nm and 4f 12 ( 3 F4)5d5/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 420.4 nm and evaluated the life times of the excited levels as 16.1(8) ns and 40(4) ns respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels are evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock calculations. We conclude, that the strong transition at 410.6 nm has an optical leak rate of less then 2·10 −5 and can be used for efficient laser cooling of 169 Tm from a thermal atomic beam. In addition we give a calculated value of 7(2) s −1 for the rate of magnetic-dipole transition at 1.14 µm between the fine structure levels (Jg = 7/2) ↔ (J ′ g = 5/2) of the ground state. Due to efficient shielding by the closed 6s 2 shell, this transition is insensitive to collisions which makes it a promising candidate for applications in atomic clocks. PACS numbers: I.

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Blue laser cooling transitions in Tm I

Russian Federation

We have studied possible candidates for laser cool- ing transitions in 169 Tm in the spectral region of 410-420 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy, we have meas- ured the hyperfine structure and rates of two nearly closed cy- cling transitions from the ground state 4 f 13 6s 2 ( 2 F0)(Jg = 7/2) to upper states 4 f 12 ( 3 H5)5d3/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 410. 6n m and 4 f 12 ( 3 F4)5d5/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 420.4 nm and evaluated the life times of the excited levels as 15.9(8) ns and 48 (6) ns, respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels are evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock calculations. We conclude that the strong transition at 410. 6n m has an optical leak rate of less then 2 × 10 −5 and can be used for efficient laser cooling of 169 Tm from a thermal atomic beam. The hyperfine structure of two other even-parity levels, which can be excited from the ground state at 409. 5n m and 418.9 nm, is also measured by the same technique. In addition, we give a calculated value of 7(2) s −1 for the rate of magnetic- dipole transition at 1.14 µm between the fine structure levels (Jg = 7/2) ↔ (J � = 5/2) of the ground state which can be con- sidered as a candidate for applications in atomic clocks.

•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

Blue cooling transitions of thulium atom

K. Chebakov, N. Kolachevsky, Alexey V. Akimov +4 more

Full text: It has been shown recently that Yb and Er atoms from the lanthanides group can be efficiently laser-cooled using strong transitions near 400 nm. Degenerate Fermi gases of ytterbium have been also recently demonstrated using laser-cooling based technic. Our goal was to investigate the possibility of laser cooling of Tm atom. Among other lanthanides, thulium possesses relatively simple level structure.Moreover, it has only one stable isotope {sup 169}Tm with a nuclear spin of I = 1/2 which makes possible to use schemes for sub-Doppler cooling. Laser-cooled thulium is a favorable candidate for optical clocks applications, since the forbidden transition between the fine structure sublevels (J{sub g} 5=2) - (J'{sub g} = 7/2) of the ground state 4f{sup 13}6s{sup 2} ({lambda} = 1.14 micron) has a spectral width of approximately 1 Hz. The collisional shift of such kind of transitions in lanthanides is suppressed because of the outer closed 6s{sup 2} shell, which allows for precision spectroscopy in a dense atomic cloud. We studied two candidates for cooling transitions from the ground state 4f{sup 13}6s{sup 2} (J{sub g} 7/2) to the states 4f{sup 12}({sup 3}H{sub 5})5d{sub 3/2}6s{sup 2} (J{sub e} = 9/2) at 410.6 nm and 4f{sup 12}({sup 3}F{sub 4})5d{sub 5/2}6s{sup 2} (J{sub e} = 9/2) at 420.4 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy, we measured the hyperfine structure and rates of these transitions. We evaluated the life times of appropriate excited levels as 15.9(8) ns and 48(6) ns, respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels were evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock calculations. The fraction of atoms which do not return to the ground state is about 10{sup -5} and 5 {center_dot} 10{sup -4} for the 410.6 nm and 420.4 nm transitions respectively. We conclude that the strong transition at 410.6 nm with relative slow leakage rate can be used for the efficient cooling of Tm I. We also measured hyperfine structure of two nearby transitions from the ground state to the states 4f{sup 13}({sup 2}F{sub 7/2})6s6p({sup 1}P{sub 1}) (J{sub e} 5/2) at 409.4 nm and 4f{sup 12}({sup 3}F{sub 4})5d{sub 5/2}6s{sup 2} (J{sub e} = 7/2) at 418.9 nm, which can be used for {lambda}-type excitation of {lambda} = 1.14 {mu}m transition. (author)

•Jul 1, 2008•0 citations

Study of transitions in thulium atoms in the 410–420-nm range for laser cooling

Alexey V. Akimov, K. Chebakov, Inga Yu. TOLSTIKHINA +5 more

The possibility of laser cooling of thulium atoms is considered. The hyperfine structure of almost cyclic 4f 13 6s 2 ( J g = 7/2) ↔ 4f 12 5d 3/2 6s 2 ( J e = 9/2) and 4f 13 6s 2 ( J g = 7/2) ↔ 4f 12 5d 5/2 6s 2 ( J e = 9/2) transitions at 410.6 and 420.4 nm, respectively, is studied by the method of sub-Doppler saturation spectroscopy in counterpropagating laser beams. The hyperfine splitting of excited levels involved in these transitions is measured and the natural linewidths of these transitions are determined. The structure of the neighbouring 4f 13 6s6p ( J e = 5/2) and 4f 12 5d 5/2 6s 2 ( J e = 7/2) levels is studied for the first time by this method. The decay probabilities of the J e = 9/2 levels via channels removing atoms from the cooling cycle are calculated. It is found that the branching ratio for the strong transition at 410.6 nm ( A = 6 × 10 7 s -1 ) is smaller than 2 × 10 -5 , which makes this transition most promising for laser cooling. The laser cooling of atoms in a Zeeman cooler at this transition is simulated. The possibility of using a laser-cooled cloud of thulium atoms to study the metrological transition at 1.14 μm is discussed.

Quantum Electronics•Oct 31, 2008•4 citations

Laser cooling transitions in atomic erbium

H Ban, Marcus Jacka, J. L. Hanssen +2 more

We discuss laser cooling opportunities in atomic erbium, identifying five J ? J + 1 transitions from the 4f126s2 3H6 ground state that are accessible to common visible and near-infrared continuous-wave tunable lasers. We present lifetime measurements for the 4f11(4Io 15/2)5d5/26s2 (15/2, 5/2)7o state at 11888 cm-1 and the 4f11(4Io 13/2)5d3/26s2 (13/2, 5/2)7o state at 15847 cm-1, showing values of 20 +/- 4 micros and 5.6 +/- 1.4 micros, respectively. We also present a calculated value of 13 +/- 7 s-1 for the transition rate from the 4f11(4Io 15/2)5d3/26s2 (15/2, 3/2)7 o state at 7697 cm-1 to the ground state, based on scaled Hartree-Fock energy parameters. Laser cooling on these transitions in combination with a strong, fast (5.8 ns) laser cooling transition at 401 nm, suggest new opportunities for narrowband laser cooling of a large-magnetic moment atom, with possible applications in quantum information processing, high-precision atomic clocks, quantum degenerate gases, and deterministic single-atom doping of materials.

Optics Express•Jan 1, 2005•44 citations

Sub-doppler laser cooling of thulium atoms in a magneto-optical trap

D. Sukachev, A. Sokolov, K. Chebakov +3 more

Sub-Doppler laser cooling in a magneto-optical trap for thulium atoms at a wavelength of 410.6 nm has been experimentally studied. Without any dedicated molasses period of sub-Doppler cooling, the cloud of 3 × 106 atoms at a temperature of 25(5) μK was observed. The measured temperature is significantly lower than the Doppler limit of 240 μK for the cooling transition at 410.6 nm. The high efficiency of the sub-Doppler cooling process is due to a near-degeneracy of the Landé g-factors of the lower 4f 136s 2 (J = 7/2) and the upper 4f 125d 3/26s 2 (J = 9/2) cooling levels.

arXiv:1012.5433•Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters•Nov 1, 2010•23 citations

Exploring the feasibility of laser cooling of atomic cobalt

Szymon Mieloch, Marcin Klempka, Jarosław Ruczkowski +7 more

Within this work a preliminary feasibility study of the laser cooling possibilities for atomic cobalt was performed, motivated by its potential as a platform for quantum-degenerate dipolar matter. Because of the relatively high electronic shells' magnetic moment of the cobalt atom, the approach of cooling and magneto-optical trapping, developed for highly magnetic lanthanide elements, was considered also for this element. Optical leaks from the proposed upper levels were identified and semi-empirical calculations of the transition probabilities for all the relevant transitions were carried out; in all the cases decays to a particular metastable state proved relatively strong - thus $\Lambda$-type cooling systems (with one repumper) were further discussed. In order to improve the precision of determination of the hyperfine structure for the proposed upper levels, selected spectral lines directly involving these levels were investigated with the method of laser induced fluorescence in a hollow cathode discharge lamp and evaluated. Additionally, also some spectral lines from Fourier transform spectra available online were analyzed. These experimental data enabled a more accurate determination of the hyperfine structure constants $A$ for 4 odd-parity levels with $J=11/2$; for 3 of those levels the accuracy for the constants $B$ was also improved, and for one level the constant $B$ was evaluated for the first time. The studies performed in this work allowed to indicate possible candidate cooling schemes, and discuss their basic merits and drawbacks.

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer•Jul 30, 2026•0 citations
We have studied possible candidates for laser cooling transitions in 169 Tm in the spectral region 410 –420 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy we have measured the hyperfine structure and rates of two nearly closed cycling transitions from the ground state 4f 13 6s 2 ( 2 F0)(Jg = 7/2) to upper states 4f 12 ( 3 H5)5d3/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 410.6 nm and 4f 12 ( 3 F4)5d5/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 420.4 nm and evaluated the life times of the excited levels as 16.1(8) ns and 40(4) ns respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels are evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock calculations. We conclude, that the strong transition at 410.6 nm has an optical leak rate of less then 2·10 −5 and can be used for efficient laser cooling of 169 Tm from a thermal atomic beam. In addition we give a calculated value of 7(2) s −1 for the rate of magnetic-dipole transition at 1.14 µm between the fine structure levels (Jg = 7/2) ↔ (J ′ g = 5/2) of the ground state. Due to efficient shielding by the closed 6s 2 shell, this transition is insensitive to collisions which makes it a promising candidate for applications in atomic clocks. PACS numbers: I.
We have studied possible candidates for laser cool- ing transitions in 169 Tm in the spectral region of 410-420 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy, we have meas- ured the hyperfine structure and rates of two nearly closed cy- cling transitions from the ground state 4 f 13 6s 2 ( 2 F0)(Jg = 7/2) to upper states 4 f 12 ( 3 H5)5d3/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 410. 6n m and 4 f 12 ( 3 F4)5d5/26s 2 (Je = 9/2) at 420.4 nm and evaluated the life times of the excited levels as 15.9(8) ns and 48 (6) ns, respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels are evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock calculations. We conclude that the strong transition at 410. 6n m has an optical leak rate of less then 2 × 10 −5 and can be used for efficient laser cooling of 169 Tm from a thermal atomic beam. The hyperfine structure of two other even-parity levels, which can be excited from the ground state at 409. 5n m and 418.9 nm, is also measured by the same technique. In addition, we give a calculated value of 7(2) s −1 for the rate of magnetic- dipole transition at 1.14 µm between the fine structure levels (Jg = 7/2) ↔ (J � = 5/2) of the ground state which can be con- sidered as a candidate for applications in atomic clocks.
Full text: It has been shown recently that Yb and Er atoms from the lanthanides group can be efficiently laser-cooled using strong transitions near 400 nm. Degenerate Fermi gases of ytterbium have been also recently demonstrated using laser-cooling based technic. Our goal was to investigate the possibility of laser cooling of Tm atom. Among other lanthanides, thulium possesses relatively simple level structure.Moreover, it has only one stable isotope {sup 169}Tm with a nuclear spin of I = 1/2 which makes possible to use schemes for sub-Doppler cooling. Laser-cooled thulium is a favorable candidate for optical clocks applications, since the forbidden transition between the fine structure sublevels (J{sub g} 5=2) - (J'{sub g} = 7/2) of the ground state 4f{sup 13}6s{sup 2} ({lambda} = 1.14 micron) has a spectral width of approximately 1 Hz. The collisional shift of such kind of transitions in lanthanides is suppressed because of the outer closed 6s{sup 2} shell, which allows for precision spectroscopy in a dense atomic cloud. We studied two candidates for cooling transitions from the ground state 4f{sup 13}6s{sup 2} (J{sub g} 7/2) to the states 4f{sup 12}({sup 3}H{sub 5})5d{sub 3/2}6s{sup 2} (J{sub e} = 9/2) at 410.6 nm and 4f{sup 12}({sup 3}F{sub 4})5d{sub 5/2}6s{sup 2} (J{sub e} = 9/2) at 420.4 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy, we measured the hyperfine structure and rates of these transitions. We evaluated the life times of appropriate excited levels as 15.9(8) ns and 48(6) ns, respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels were evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock calculations. The fraction of atoms which do not return to the ground state is about 10{sup -5} and 5 {center_dot} 10{sup -4} for the 410.6 nm and 420.4 nm transitions respectively. We conclude that the strong transition at 410.6 nm with relative slow leakage rate can be used for the efficient cooling of Tm I. We also measured hyperfine structure of two nearby transitions from the ground state to the states 4f{sup 13}({sup 2}F{sub 7/2})6s6p({sup 1}P{sub 1}) (J{sub e} 5/2) at 409.4 nm and 4f{sup 12}({sup 3}F{sub 4})5d{sub 5/2}6s{sup 2} (J{sub e} = 7/2) at 418.9 nm, which can be used for {lambda}-type excitation of {lambda} = 1.14 {mu}m transition. (author)
The possibility of laser cooling of thulium atoms is considered. The hyperfine structure of almost cyclic 4f 13 6s 2 ( J g = 7/2) ↔ 4f 12 5d 3/2 6s 2 ( J e = 9/2) and 4f 13 6s 2 ( J g = 7/2) ↔ 4f 12 5d 5/2 6s 2 ( J e = 9/2) transitions at 410.6 and 420.4 nm, respectively, is studied by the method of sub-Doppler saturation spectroscopy in counterpropagating laser beams. The hyperfine splitting of excited levels involved in these transitions is measured and the natural linewidths of these transitions are determined. The structure of the neighbouring 4f 13 6s6p ( J e = 5/2) and 4f 12 5d 5/2 6s 2 ( J e = 7/2) levels is studied for the first time by this method. The decay probabilities of the J e = 9/2 levels via channels removing atoms from the cooling cycle are calculated. It is found that the branching ratio for the strong transition at 410.6 nm ( A = 6 × 10 7 s -1 ) is smaller than 2 × 10 -5 , which makes this transition most promising for laser cooling. The laser cooling of atoms in a Zeeman cooler at this transition is simulated. The possibility of using a laser-cooled cloud of thulium atoms to study the metrological transition at 1.14 μm is discussed.
We discuss laser cooling opportunities in atomic erbium, identifying five J ? J + 1 transitions from the 4f126s2 3H6 ground state that are accessible to common visible and near-infrared continuous-wave tunable lasers. We present lifetime measurements for the 4f11(4Io 15/2)5d5/26s2 (15/2, 5/2)7o state at 11888 cm-1 and the 4f11(4Io 13/2)5d3/26s2 (13/2, 5/2)7o state at 15847 cm-1, showing values of 20 +/- 4 micros and 5.6 +/- 1.4 micros, respectively. We also present a calculated value of 13 +/- 7 s-1 for the transition rate from the 4f11(4Io 15/2)5d3/26s2 (15/2, 3/2)7 o state at 7697 cm-1 to the ground state, based on scaled Hartree-Fock energy parameters. Laser cooling on these transitions in combination with a strong, fast (5.8 ns) laser cooling transition at 401 nm, suggest new opportunities for narrowband laser cooling of a large-magnetic moment atom, with possible applications in quantum information processing, high-precision atomic clocks, quantum degenerate gases, and deterministic single-atom doping of materials.
Sub-Doppler laser cooling in a magneto-optical trap for thulium atoms at a wavelength of 410.6 nm has been experimentally studied. Without any dedicated molasses period of sub-Doppler cooling, the cloud of 3 × 106 atoms at a temperature of 25(5) μK was observed. The measured temperature is significantly lower than the Doppler limit of 240 μK for the cooling transition at 410.6 nm. The high efficiency of the sub-Doppler cooling process is due to a near-degeneracy of the Landé g-factors of the lower 4f 136s 2 (J = 7/2) and the upper 4f 125d 3/26s 2 (J = 9/2) cooling levels.
Within this work a preliminary feasibility study of the laser cooling possibilities for atomic cobalt was performed, motivated by its potential as a platform for quantum-degenerate dipolar matter. Because of the relatively high electronic shells' magnetic moment of the cobalt atom, the approach of cooling and magneto-optical trapping, developed for highly magnetic lanthanide elements, was considered also for this element. Optical leaks from the proposed upper levels were identified and semi-empirical calculations of the transition probabilities for all the relevant transitions were carried out; in all the cases decays to a particular metastable state proved relatively strong - thus Λ\LambdaΛ-type cooling systems (with one repumper) were further discussed. In order to improve the precision of determination of the hyperfine structure for the proposed upper levels, selected spectral lines directly involving these levels were investigated with the method of laser induced fluorescence in a hollow cathode discharge lamp and evaluated. Additionally, also some spectral lines from Fourier transform spectra available online were analyzed. These experimental data enabled a more accurate determination of the hyperfine structure constants AAA for 4 odd-parity levels with J=11/2J=11/2J=11/2; for 3 of those levels the accuracy for the constants BBB was also improved, and for one level the constant BBB was evaluated for the first time. The studies performed in this work allowed to indicate possible candidate cooling schemes, and discuss their basic merits and drawbacks.