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Magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms and a limit on the branching ratio of the 1P1 state

和仁 本多, Kazuhito Honda, 義朗 高橋, Yoshiro Takahashi, 剛 桑本, T. Kuwamoto, 健二 豊田, Kenji TOYODA, 潔 石川, Kiyoshi Ishikawa, 藪崎努, T. Yabuzaki

Published Feb 1, 1999• 0 citations
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Abstract

We have succeeded in magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms decelerated by a Zeeman slower method. The number of the trapped atoms is more than about 1.3×106 measured by light absorption. We have found the evidence of the branching from the 1P1 excited state to triplet states, and determined the lower limit on the branching ratio to be 1.2×10-7.

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Magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms and a limit on the branching ratio of the 1P1 state

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Thulium atoms are trapped in a magneto-optical trap using a strong transition at $410$ nm with a small branching ratio. We trap up to $7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms at a temperature of $0.8(2)$ mK after deceleration in a $40$-cm-long Zeeman slower. Optical leaks from the cooling cycle influence the lifetime of atoms in the magneto-optical trap which varies between $0.3$ and $1.5$ s in our experiments. The lower limit for the leaking rate from the upper cooling level is measured to be $22(6)$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The repumping laser transferring the atomic population out of the $F=3$ hyperfine ground-state sublevel gives a $30%$ increase for the lifetime and the number of atoms in the trap.

arXiv:1003.0877•Physical Review A•Jul 28, 2010•98 citations
We have succeeded in magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms decelerated by a Zeeman slower method. The number of the trapped atoms is more than about 1.3×106 measured by light absorption. We have found the evidence of the branching from the 1P1 excited state to triplet states, and determined the lower limit on the branching ratio to be 1.2×10-7.
We have succeeded in magneto-optical trapping of Yb atoms decelerated by a Zeeman slower method. The number of the trapped atoms is more than about $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ measured by light absorption. We have found the evidence of the branching from the 1P1{}^{1}{P}_{1}1P1​ excited state to triplet states, and determined the lower limit on the branching ratio to be $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}.$
We report the magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium atoms using the 6s2 1S0-6s6p 3P1 intercombination transition. The magneto-optical trap is continuously loaded from an atomic beam decelerated by a Zeeman-tuned atomic-beam slower operated at the 6s2 1S0-6s6p 1P1 transition. Among seven stable isotopes of ytterbium, six isotopes of 170Yb, 171Yb, 172Yb, 173Yb, 174Yb, and 176Yb are successfully trapped. The number and density of the trapped atoms are about 108 and 1011 cm-3, respectively. The temperature of atoms is estimated to be about 20 μK from the time-of-flight measurement. The decay time of the trapped atoms after stopping the loading of atoms is about 3 s.
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.
We report the realization of ytterbium magneto-optical trap (MOT) operating on the dipole-allowed 1 S 0 — 1 P 1 transition at 398.9 nm. The MOT is loaded by a slowed atomic beam produced by a Zeeman slower. All seven stable isotopes of Yb atoms could be trapped separately at different laser detuning values. Over 10 7 174 Yb atoms are collected in the MOT, whereas the atom number of fermionic isotope 171 Yb is roughly 2.3 × 10 6 due to a lower abundance. Without the Zeeman slower, the trapped atom numbers are one order of magnitude lower. Both the even and odd isotopes are recognized as excellent candidates of optical clock transition, so the cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms by the blue MOT is an important step for building an optical clock.
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.
Thulium atoms are trapped in a magneto-optical trap using a strong transition at 410410410 nm with a small branching ratio. We trap up to $7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms at a temperature of 0.8(2)0.8(2)0.8(2) mK after deceleration in a 404040-cm-long Zeeman slower. Optical leaks from the cooling cycle influence the lifetime of atoms in the magneto-optical trap which varies between 0.30.30.3 and 1.51.51.5 s in our experiments. The lower limit for the leaking rate from the upper cooling level is measured to be 22(6)22(6)22(6) ${\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The repumping laser transferring the atomic population out of the F=3F=3F=3 hyperfine ground-state sublevel gives a 3030%30 increase for the lifetime and the number of atoms in the trap.