Bose-Einstein condensation of 87Rb in a levitated crossed dipole trap

We report an apparatus and method capable of producing Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of ～1 × 10^{6 87}Rb atoms, and ultimately designed for sympathetic cooling of ¹³³Cs and the creation of ultracold RbCs molecules. The method combines several elements: (i) the large recapture of a magnetic quadrupole trap from a magneto-optical trap; (ii) efficient forced RF evaporation in such a magnetic trap; (iii) the gain in phase-space density obtained when loading the magnetically trapped atoms into a far red-detuned optical dipole trap, and (iv) efficient evaporation to BEC within the dipole trap. We demonstrate that the system is capable of sympathetically cooling the |F = 1, m _F = ?1〉 and |1,0? sublevels with |1, +1〉 atoms. Finally we discuss the applicability of the method to sympathetic cooling of ¹³³Cs with ⁸⁷Rb.     

Feshbach resonances in an ultracold mixture of 87Rb and 40K

We report the experimental preparations of the absolute ground states of ⁸⁷Rb and ⁴⁰K atoms (| F=1, m_F=1,〉+ |F=9/2, m_F=-9/2,〉) by means of the radio-frequency and microwave adiabatic rapid passages, and the observation of magnetic Feshbach resonances in an ultracold mixture of bosonic ⁸⁷Rb and fermionic ⁴⁰K atoms between 0 T and 6.0 × 10^-2 T, including 7 homonuclear and 4 heteronuclear Feshbach resonances. The resonances are identified by the abrupt trap loss of atoms induced by the strong inelastic three-body collisions. These Feshbach resonances should enable the experimental control of interspecies interactions.     

Formation of ultracold RbCs molecules by photoassociation

The formation of ultracold metastable RbCs molecules is observed in a double species magneto-optical trap through photoassociation below the ⁸⁵Rb(5S_1/2) + ¹³³Cs(6P_3/2) dissociation limit followed by spontaneous emission. The molecules are detected by resonance enhanced two-photon ionization. Using accurate quantum chemistry calculations of the potential energy curves and transition dipole moment, we interpret the observed photoassociation process as occurring at short internuclear distance, in contrast with most previous cold atom photoassociation studies. The vibrational levels excited by photoassociation belong to the 5th 0⁺ or the 4th 0^? electronic states correlated to the Rb(5P_{1/2, 3/2}) + Cs(6S_1/2) dissociation limit. The computed vibrational distribution of the produced molecules shows that they are stabilized in deeply bound vibrational states of the lowest triplet state. We also predict that a noticeable fraction of molecules is produced in the lowest level of the electronic ground state.     

Production and state-selective detection of ultracold RbCs molecules

Using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, we detect ultracold, metastable RbCs molecules formed in their lowest triplet state a (3)Sigma(+) via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of 85Rb and 133Cs atoms. We obtain extensive bound-bound excitation spectra of these molecules, which provide detailed information about their vibrational distribution, as well as spectroscopic data on several RbCs molecular states including a (3)Sigma(+), (2) (3)Sigma(+), and (1) (1)Pi. Analysis of this data allows us to predict strong transitions from observed levels to the absolute vibronic ground state of RbCs, potentially allowing the production of stable, ultracold polar molecules at rates in excess of 10(6) s(-1).     

Development of an apparatus for cooling <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li-<Superscript>87</Superscript>Rb Fermi-Bose mixtures in a light-assisted magnetic trap

We describe an experimental setup designed to produce ultracold trapped gas clouds of fermionic ⁶Li and bosonic ⁸⁷Rb. This combination of alkali metals has the potential to reach deeper Fermi degeneracy with respect to other mixtures since it allows for improved heat capacity matching which optimizes sympathetic cooling efficiency. Atomic beams of the two species are independently produced and then decelerated by Zeeman slowers. The slowed atoms are collected into a magneto-optical trap and then transferred into a quadrupole magnetic trap. An ultracold Fermi gas with temperature in the 10^?3 T _F range should be attainable through selective confinement of the two species via a properly detuned laser beam focused in the center of the magnetic trap.     

Production of ultracold, polar RbCs* molecules via photoassociation

We have produced ultracold, polar RbCs* molecules via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of Rb and Cs atoms. Using a model of the RbCs* molecular interaction which reproduces the observed rovibrational structure, we infer decay rates in our experiments into deeply bound X(1)Sigma(+) ground-state RbCs vibrational levels as high as 5 x 10(5) s(-1) per level. Population in such deeply bound levels could be efficiently transferred to the vibrational ground state using a single stimulated Raman transition, opening the possibility to create large samples of stable, ultracold polar molecules.     

Collision dynamics between stretched states of spin-2 87Rb Bose–Einstein condensates

We experimentally observed the time dependence of the spin populations of spin-2 ⁸⁷Rb Bose–Einstein condensates confined in an optical trap. The condensed atoms were initially populated in the stretched states |F=2,m _F =+2〉 and |F=2,m _F =?2〉 with several varieties of population imbalances. No spin-exchange collisions were observed in a weak magnetic field of 45 mG. The atom loss rate depended on the observed relative population of spin-states. We calculated the loss rate due to two-body inelastic collisions with the population imbalance using an experimentally estimated rate of 17.0(±1.9)×10^?14 cm³?s^?1 under the population balance. The calculations were in good agreement with the measurements. Our results show that the dependence of inelastic collisions on spin channels plays an important role in the time-evolution of spin populations.     

Manipulation of ultracold atomic mixtures using microwave techniques

We used microwave radiation to evaporatively cool a mixture of of ¹³³Cs and ⁸⁷Rb atoms in a magnetic trap. A mixture composed of an equal number (around 10⁴) of Rb and Cs atoms in their doubly polarized states at ultracold temperatures was prepared. We also used microwaves to selectively evaporate atoms in different Zeeman states.     

Phase separation and vortex states in the binary mixture of Bose-Einstein condensates

The phase separation and vortex states in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate consisting of |F = 1, m _f = 1〉 and |2, 1〉 internal spin states of ⁸⁷Rb atoms are considered in the framework of the Thomas-Fermi approximation. It is shown that in the nonrotating system, the atoms in the state |1, ?1〉 form a shell around the atoms in the state |2, 1〉. The critical angular velocity for each state is calculated. These velocities depend drastically on the relative concentrations of the components, the critical angular velocity of the outer component being less than the angular velocity of the inner one. It is shown that the atoms in the |1, ?1〉 state can form a rotating ring around the resting core of the atoms in the |2, 1〉 state.     

Production of a dual-species Bose-Einstein condensate of Rb and Cs atoms

We report the simultaneous production of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs atoms in separate optical traps. The two samples are mixed during laser cooling and loading but are separated by 400 μm for the final stage of evaporative cooling. This is done to avoid considerable interspecies three-body recombination, which causes heating and evaporative loss. We characterize the BEC production process, discuss limitations, and outline the use of the dual-species BEC in future experiments to produce rovibronic ground state molecules, including a scheme facilitated by the superfluid-to-Mott-insulator (SF-MI) phase transition.     

Experimental investigation of evaporative cooling mixture of bosonic 87Rb and fermionic 40K atoms with microwave and radio frequency radiation

We investigate sympathetic cooling fermions ⁴⁰K by evaporatively cooling bosonic ⁸⁷Rb atoms in a magnetic trap with microwave and radio frequency induced evaporations in detail. The mixture of bosonic and fermionic atoms is prepared in their polarized spin states |F=9/2, m_F=9/2> for ⁴⁰K and |F=2, m_F=2> for ⁸⁷Rb, which is trapped in Quadrupole--Ioffe--Configuration trap. Comparing microwave with radio frequency evaporatively cooling bosonic ⁸⁷Rb atoms with sympathetically cooling Fermi gas ⁴⁰K, we find that the presence of rubidium atoms in the |2,1> Zeeman states, which are generated in the evaporative process, gives rise to a significant loss of ⁴⁰K due to inelastic collisions. Thus, the rubidium atoms populated in the |2, 1> Zeeman states should be removed in order to effectively perform sympathetically cooling ⁴⁰K with the evaporatively cooled ⁸⁷Rb atoms.     

Polarization spectroscopy of Rb and Cs

Theoretical calculation of ⁸⁵Rb and ¹³³Cs D₁ signals in polarization spectroscopy is presented by using the method of velocity-selective optical pumping in a four-level system. Since good agreement between theory and experiment has been found in Na D₁ polarized signals, the theoretical calculation can be also applied to Rb and Cs D₁ lines. Rb and Cs atoms have higher total angular momentum F in the hyperfine structures than Na atom and then the calculation is more complicated. The relative signal intensities in polarization spectroscopy are compared with those in saturation spectroscopy.     

A high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the detection of ultracold molecules

We have realized a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with a magneto-optical trap. The spectrometer enables excellent optical access to the trapped atomic cloud using specifically devised acceleration and deflection electrodes. The ions are extracted along a laser beam axis and deflected onto an off-axis detector. The setup is applied to detect atoms and molecules photoassociated from ultracold atoms. The detection is based on resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization. Mass resolution up to m/Δm_rms=1000 at the mass of ¹³³Cs is achieved. The performance of this spectrometer is demonstrated in the detection of photoassociated ultracold ⁷Li¹³³Cs molecules near a large signal of ¹³³Cs ions. PACS 07.75.+h; 32.80.Rm; 37.10.Gh     

Isomerieverschiebungen der 81 keV γ-Linie des133Cs

Isomer shifts of the 81.0 keVγ-transition in¹³³Cs have been measured by the Mössbauer technique for eight ionic Cs compounds, and for the intermetallic compound CsBi₂. The source was¹³³Ba in CaF₂. The shifts, relative to CsCl, range from ?1.4 · 10^?8 eV for CsNO₃ to +1.6 · 10^?8 eV for CsBi₂. The difference in electron density at the Cs nucleus between CsBi₂ and CsNO₃ is discussed using chemical bonding arguments. For the Cs halides, this difference is estimated from the overlap of outer electron shells in the lattices. A relative change of the mean square charge radiusδ〈r ²〉/〈r ²〉=+2 · 10^?4 is derived.     

NMR in Li2 M 3Al(MoO4)4 triple molybdates (M = Rb,Cs)

Nuclear magnetic resonance (magic angle spinning) spectra of ⁷Li, ²⁷Al, ⁸⁷Rb, and ¹³³Cs nuclei are measured in Li₂ M ₃Al(MoO₄)₄ triple molybdates (M = Rb, Cs) for the first time. Analysis of the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra reveal considerable asymmetry in the distribution of the electric charge throughout the crystal lattices of the compounds.     

Magnetic resonance frequency shifts upon spin-exchange collisions of alkali atoms

Magnetic resonance frequency shifts caused by spin-exchange collisions between ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs atoms are calculated, and temperature dependences of magnetic resonance frequency shifts are drawn for two hyperfine states (F = 1, 2) of ⁸⁷Rb atoms. The obtained dependences are compared with experimental data.     

NMR investigations of dynamical processes in orientationally ordered and disordered NaCN,RbCN and CsCN

The nuclear spin lattice relaxation timeT ₁ of the²³Na,⁸⁵Rb,⁸⁷Rb,¹³³Cs,¹⁴N nuclei is measured in NaCN, RbCN and CsCN as a function of temperature below and above the ferroelastic phase transition temperatureT _c. BelowT _c the behaviour ofT ₁ of the alkali nuclei renders possible to determine the flip frequency of the CN molecules and its temperature dependence. AboveT _c from the¹⁴NT ₁ the correlation time τ_c of the rotational motions of the CN molecules and its temperature dependence is determined. An empirical rule is verified demonstrating that atT _c the correlation times take nearly the same values for all cyanides. For the high and low temperature phases one obtains atT _c about τ_c=5·10^?13s and τ_c=5·10^?11s, respectively. The results are discussed with respect to the mechanism of the phase transition.     

Reconfigurable atom chip on a transparent ferrite-garnet film

We introduce a new choice of material for the creation of microscopic magnetic potentials for the trapping and guiding of ultracold neutral atoms. The potentials are created above a ferrimagnetic, transparent (BiYTmGd)₃(FeGa)₅O₁₂ film by patterning the magnetic-domain structure in the film with a magneto-optical recording method. Patterns with linewidth down to 2 μm have been achieved, enabling trap frequencies of the order of 100 kHz for ⁸⁷Rb atoms in the state |F=1, m_F=-1〉. The main advantages of the material are: 1) magnetic-field noise is suppressed due to the dielectricity of the material and the absence of electric currents, 2) trapped atoms can be addressed optically through the transparent film, and 3) the film can be repatterned, which enables different experiments with the same component.     

QUIC阱中紧束缚状态下87Rb原子气体的玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体相变的直接观测

在QUIC阱中经蒸发冷却获得了2×10⁵个|F=2,m_F=2〉态的⁸⁷Rb原子气体的玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚.验证了紧束缚状态下原子云的轴向尺寸的变化作为BEC相变的判据，观察了从热原子气体到玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚的相变过程，测量了自由膨胀过程中BEC的纵横比变化，并和理论预言进行了对比. 关键词： 玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚 激光冷却与囚禁     

Observation of heteronuclear Feshbach molecules from a 85Rb-87Rb gas

We report on the observation of ultracold heteronuclear Feshbach molecules. Starting with a 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate and a cold atomic gas of 85Rb, we utilize previously unobserved interspecies Feshbach resonances to create up to 25,000 molecules. Even though the 85Rb gas is nondegenerate, we observe a large molecular conversion efficiency due to the presence of a quantum degenerate 87Rb gas; this represents a key feature of our system. We compare the molecule creation at two different Feshbach resonances with different magnetic-field widths. The two Feshbach resonances are located at 265.44+/-0.15 G and 372.4+/-1.3 G. We also directly measure the small binding energy of the molecules through resonant magnetic-field association.