Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 16: Symposium SAMOP Dissertation-Prize 2014 SYAD (with Q, MO, P)

A 16.3: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 11:30–12:00, Audimax

Degenerate quantum gases of alkaline-earth atoms — •Simon Stellmer — Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Innsbruck — Universität Innsbruck — Atominstitut der TU Wien

Alkaline-earth atoms are a well-established and very successful platform for optical clocks, but their introduction into the field of quantum gases occurred only very recently. Atoms of alkaline-earth elements are strikingly different from the widely used alkali atoms with respect to their nuclear, electronic, and scattering properties. Their unique features, such as narrow transitions and metastable states, are at the heart of many novel quantum simulation protocols and related proposals. These fascinating ideas, however, require deeply degenerate samples.

In my talk, I will sketch a robust and efficient scheme that allowed us to reach quantum degeneracy in strontium for the first time. I will then elaborate on an experiment that beautifully combines various favorable properties of strontium: the attainment of Bose-Einstein condensation purely by laser cooling, i.e. without the stage of evaporative cooling. This work holds prospects for the generation of a continuous atom laser.