Bragg spectroscopy and Ramsey interferometry with an ultracold Fermi gas

We report on the observation of Bragg scattering of an ultracold Fermi gas of ⁶Li atoms at a dynamic optical potential. The momentum states produced in this way oscillate in the trap for time scales on the order of seconds, nearly unperturbed by collisions, which are absent for ultracold fermions due to the Pauli principle. In contrast, interactions in a mixture with ⁸⁷Rb atoms lead to rapid damping. The coherence of these states is demonstrated by Ramsey-type matter wave interferometry. The signal is improved using an echo pulse sequence, allowing us to observe coherence times longer than 100 μs. Finally, we use Bragg spectroscopy to measure the in-situ momentum distribution of the ⁶Li cloud. Signatures for the degeneracy of the Fermi gas can be observed directly from the momentum distribution of the atoms inside the trap.     

Sympathetic cooling in an optically trapped mixture of alkali and spin-singlet atoms

We report on the realization of a stable mixture of ultracold lithium and ytterbium atoms confined in a far-off-resonance optical dipole trap. We observe sympathetic cooling of 6Li by 174Yb and extract the s-wave scattering length magnitude |a(6Li-174Yb)|=(13±3)a0 from the rate of interspecies thermalization. Using forced evaporative cooling of 174Yb, we achieve reduction of the 6Li temperature to below the Fermi temperature, purely through interspecies sympathetic cooling.     

Measurement of S-Wave Scattering Length between ~6Li and ~(88)Sr Atoms Using Interspecies Thermalization in an Optical Dipole Trap

We report the creation of the first mixture of ~6 Li and ~(88) Sr atoms in an optical dipole trap. Using this mixture,a measurement of the interspecies thermalization process is carried out and the previously unknown interspecies s-wave scattering length between ~6 Li and ~(88) Sr atoms is extracted to be |~(a6) Li-~(88) Sr| =(380_(-100)~(+160))a_0 with a_0 being the Bohr radius from the rate of interspecies thermalization.     

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.     

Cross-section for collisions of ultracold Li with Na

In a magneto-optical trap (MOT) we are able to simultaneously trap and cool ⁷Li and Na. We investigated the loading behavior of the cloud of Li atoms in presence of the overlapped cloud of cold Na atoms, and, by blocking the weak repumping beam for Na, compared it with the loading curve for Li atoms only. Out of these loading curves we calculated the collision cross-section of Na on Li to be 10^-11 cm ³ /s. Received 11 January 2002 / Received in final form 5 April 2002 Published online 24 September 2002     

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.     

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.     

光学偶极阱中铷原子5S_(1/2)及5P_(3/2)态的AC Stark频移

基于二能级模型和多能级模型,分析计算了由强聚焦高斯光束形成的光学偶极阱中87Rb原子5S1/2态和5P3/2态的AC Stark频移。基于多能级模型,针对在852 nm高斯激光束强聚焦所形成的87Rb原子远失谐光学偶极阱中进行偏振梯度冷却的情形,计算了冷却循环跃迁(5S1/2F=2-5P3/2F′=3)的频移量,结果显示频移对molasses冷却过程产生了重要的影响。同时,计算了5S1/2|F=2,mF=±2〉态和5P3/2|F′=3,mF=±3〉态的AC Stark频移随光学偶极阱激光波长的变化情况,发现在红失谐情况下,对于87Rb原子5S1/2-5P3/2态跃迁不存在魔数波长。     

Crossover from a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate to a degenerate Fermi gas

We demonstrate a reversible conversion of a 6Li2 molecular Bose-Einstein condensate to a degenerate Fermi gas of atoms by adiabatically crossing a Feshbach resonance. By optical in situ imaging, we observe a smooth change of the cloud size in the crossover regime. On the Feshbach resonance, the ensemble is strongly interacting and the measured cloud size is 75(7)% of the one of a noninteracting zero-temperature Fermi gas. The high condensate fraction of more than 90% and the adiabatic crossover suggest our Fermi gas to be cold enough to form a superfluid.     

Laser frequency stabilization for atom cooling and magnetic-field compression of the trap

We report a frequency stabilization technique of a diode laser in a Doppler-free atomic transition used for obtaining the magneto-optical trapping of Rb atoms. This technique, based on side locking to an atomic transition using a servo controller, is very simple and can be implemented straightforwardly to lock the laser at the red detuned frequency position required for laser cooling experiments. The number of trapped atoms and the temperature of the cold cloud have been determined. The effect of trapping the magnetic field on the cloud radius has also been analyzed.     

A high phase-space density mixture of 87Rb and 133Cs: towards ultracold heteronuclear molecules

We report the production of a high phase-space density mixture of ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs atoms in a levitated crossed optical dipole trap as the first step towards the creation of ultracold RbCs molecules via magneto-association. We present a simple and robust experimental setup designed for the sympathetic cooling of ¹³³Cs via interspecies elastic collisions with ⁸⁷Rb. Working with the |F = 1,m _F = +1〉 and the |3, +3〉 states of ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs respectively, we measure a high interspecies three-body inelastic collision rate ～10^?25?10^?26 cm⁶ ? s^?1 which hinders the sympathetic cooling. Nevertheless by careful tailoring of the evaporation we can produce phase-space densities near quantum degeneracy for both species simultaneously. In addition we report the observation of an interspecies Feshbach resonance at 181.7(5) G and demonstrate the creation of Cs₂ molecules via magneto-association on the 4(g)4 resonance at 19.8 G. These results represent important steps towards the creation of ultracold RbCs molecules in our apparatus.     

Laser based accelerator for ultracold atoms

We present our first results on our implementation of a laser based accelerator for ultracold atoms. Atoms cooled to a temperature of 420 nK are confined and accelerated by means of laser tweezer beams, and the atomic scattering is directly observed in laser absorption imaging. The optical collider has been characterized using 87Rb atoms in the |F=2, m(F)=2] state, but the scheme is not restricted to atoms in any particular magnetic substates and can readily be extended to other atomic species as well.     

Quantum degenerate mixtures of alkali and alkaline-earth-like atoms

We realize simultaneous quantum degeneracy in mixtures consisting of the alkali and alkaline-earth-like atoms Li and Yb. This is accomplished within an optical trap by sympathetic cooling of the fermionic isotope ?Li with evaporatively cooled bosonic 1??Yb and, separately, fermionic 1?3Yb. Using cross-thermalization studies, we also measure the elastic s-wave scattering lengths of both Li-Yb combinations, |a(?Li-1??Yb)| = 1.0 ± 0.2 nm and |a(?Li-1?3Yb)| = 0.9 ± 0.2 nm. The equality of these lengths is found to be consistent with mass-scaling analysis. The quantum degenerate mixtures of Li and Yb, as realized here, can be the basis for creation of ultracold molecules with electron spin degrees of freedom, studies of novel Efimov trimers, and impurity probes of superfluid systems.     

Magnetic trapping of long-lived cold Rydberg atoms

We report on the trapping of long-lived strongly magnetized Rydberg atoms. 85Rb atoms are laser cooled and collected in a superconducting magnetic trap with a strong bias field (2.9 T) and laser excited to Rydberg states. Collisions scatter a small fraction of the Rydberg atoms into long-lived high-angular momentum "guiding-center" Rydberg states, which are magnetically trapped. The Rydberg atomic cloud is examined using a time-delayed, position-sensitive probe. We observe magnetic trapping of these Rydberg atoms for times up to 200 ms. Oscillations of the Rydberg-atom cloud in the trap reveal an average magnetic moment of the trapped Rydberg atoms of approximately -8microB. These results provide guidance for other Rydberg-atom trapping schemes and illuminate a possible route for trapping antihydrogen.     

Propagation of cold atoms along a miniature magnetic guide

A cloud of laser-cooled 85Rb atoms is coupled through a magnetic funnel into a miniature waveguide formed by four current-carrying wires embedded in a silica fiber. The atom cloud has a approximately 100 &mgr;m radius within the fiber and propagates over cm distances. We study the coupling, propagation, and transverse distribution of atoms in the fiber, and find good agreement with theory. This prototype demonstrates the feasibility of miniature guides as a tool in the new field of integrated atom optics, leading to single-mode propagation of de Broglie waves and the possible preparation of 1D atom clouds.     

硅烯饱和吸附碱金属原子的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算, 研究了硅烯饱和吸附碱金属元素原子的稳定性、微观几何结构和电子性质, 并与纯硅烯及其饱和氢化结构进行了对比分析. 研究发现复合物SiX(X=Li, Na, K, Rb)的形成能都是负的, 相对于纯硅烯来说可以稳定存在. Bader电荷分析表明, 电荷从碱金属原子转移至硅原子. 从成键方式来看, 硅烯与氢原子形成共价键, 而与碱金属原子之间形成的键主要是离子性成键, 但还存在部分共价关联成分. 能带计算表明, 锂原子饱和吸附在硅烯形成的复合物SiLi是直接带隙的半导体, 带隙大小为0.34 eV. 其他碱金属饱和吸附在硅烯上形成的复合物都表现为金属性.     

Time-resolved probing of the ground state coherence in rubidium

We demonstrate the preparation and probing of the coherence between the hyperfine ground states |S(1/2),F=1> and |5S(1/2),F=2> of the Rb87 isotope. The effects of various coherence control techniques, i.e., fractional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage and coherent population return, on the coherence are investigated. These techniques are implemented using nearly degenerate pump and Stokes lasers at 795 nm (Rb D1 transition), which couple the two hyperfine ground states via the excited state |5P(1/2),F=1> through a resonant two-photon process in which a coherent superposition of the two hyperfine ground states is established. The medium is probed by an additional weak laser, which generates a four-wave mixing signal proportional to the ground state coherence and allows us to monitor its evolution in time. The experimental data are compared with numerical simulations.     

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.     

Photoassociation of heteronuclear lithium

Photoassociation of ultracold heteronuclear ⁶Li⁷Li molecules is observed inside a combined magneto-optical trap for ⁶Li and ⁷Li. The trapped atomic cloud is illuminated by a tunable single-mode laser and the number of trapped ⁷Li atoms is monitored by absorption spectroscopy. Characteristic hyperfine resolved spectra have been recorded for singlet spin orientation. Interesting saturation effects have been observed. Received: 12 July 2001 / Revised version: 1 October 2001 / Published online: 23 November 2001     

Observation of anomalous spin segregation in a trapped Fermi gas

We report the observation of spin segregation, i.e., time-dependent separation of the spin density profiles of two spin states, in a trapped, coherently prepared Fermi gas of 6Li with a magnetically tunable scattering length a12 close to zero. For |a12| approximately = 5 bohr, as the cloud profiles evolve, the measured difference in the densities at the cloud center increases in 200 ms from 0 to approximately = 60% of the initial mean density and changes sign with a12. The data are in disagreement in both amplitude and temporal evolution with a spin-wave theory for a Fermi gas. In contrast, for a Bose gas, an analogous theory has successfully described previous observations of spin segregation. The observed segregated atomic density profiles are far from equilibrium, yet they persist for approximately = 5 s, long compared to the axial trapping period of 6.9 ms. We find the zero crossing in a12=0, where spin segregation ceases, at 527.5+/-0.2 G.