Hamburg 2009 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 15: Poster I

A 15.48: Poster

Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 16:30–19:00, VMP 9 Poster

A new Experiment for the investigation of ultra-cold Potassium Rubidium Mixtures — •Johannes Will, Georg Kleine Büning, Bernd Lücke, Mazyar Sabbar, Wolfgang Ertmer, and Jan Arlt — Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Over the past few years quantum degenerate mixtures particularly including bosonic and fermionic atoms have enabled a new range of experiments. Especially the use of Feshbach-resonances to tune the interaction between the atoms in these samples has contributed to the success of these experiments. We present an experimental apparatus under construction, which will allow us to investigate mixtures of one isotope of rubidium with all isotopes of potassium and also enable the use of Feshbach-resonances.

In the experimental setup the desired fermionic or bosonic isotopes are collected in a magneto-optical trap from the background vapor. A magnetic quadrupole trap is used to transport the pre-cooled atoms mechanically into a glass cell with better vacuum. There the atoms are transferred into a novel hybrid optical and magnetic trap. This process can be repeated to increase the number of atoms or to collect multiple isotopes. Subsequently sympathetic cooling is used to bring the desired isotopes of rubidium and potassium to quantum degeneracy. Finally a magnetic field can be tuned to the Feshbach resonances to investigate and manipulate the interaction strength or to form molecules.

Particular attention will be given to the design of the laser system and the field coils, which enable the flexibility of the experiment.