A two species trap for chromium and rubidium atoms

• Published in: Journal of modern optics Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 1807 - 1816
• Main Authors: Hensler, Sven, Griesmaier, Axel, Werner, Jörg, Görlitz, Axel, Pfau, Tilman
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-2004; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; Exact sciences and technology; Optical cooling of atoms; trapping; Photon interactions with atoms; Physics; Chromium Atoms; Atom-atom collisions; Radiation assisted collision; Chromium 52; Inelastic scattering; Photoionization; Magnetooptical trap; Rubidium 87; Laser cooling; Rubidium Atoms; Atom trapping; Cross sections
• ISSN: 0950-0340; 1362-3044
• DOI: 10.1080/09500340408232492

We realize a combined trap for bosonic chromium (
52
Cr) and rubidium (
87
Rb) atoms. Initial experiments focus on exploring a suitable loading scheme for the combined trap and on studies of new trap loss mechanisms originating from simultaneous trapping of two species. By comparing the trap loss from the
87
Rb magneto-optical trap (MOT) in the absence and presence of magnetically trapped ground state
52
Cr atoms we determine the scattering cross-section of σ
inel,RbCr
= 5.0 ± 4.0 × 10
−18
m
2
for light-induced inelastic collisions between the two species. Studying the trap loss from the Rb magneto-optical trap induced by the Cr cooling-laser light, the photoionization cross-section of the excited 5P
3/1
state at an ionizing wavelength of 426 nm is measured to be σ
P
= 1.1 ± 0.3 × 10
−21
m
2
.