SAMOP 2023 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 23: Ultra-cold Atoms, Ions and BEC IV (joint session A/Q)
A 23.4: Talk
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 12:00–12:15, F303
Atom-number enhancement by shielding atoms from losses in strontium magneto-optical traps — •Vasiliy Makhalov1, Jonatan Höschele1, Sandra Buob1, Antonio Rubio1, and Leticia Tarruell1,2 — 1ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain — 2Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
Strontium offers many exciting opportunities for ultracold-atom experiments. For example, the most precise atomic clocks to date utilize the ultra-narrow clock transition of 87Sr. Strontium also finds applications in atom quantum computing, interferometers, superradiant lasers, the generation of continuous-wave BEC, and quantum simulations. Most of these applications can benefit from a higher number of atoms.
In my talk, I will present a method to enhance the atom number in a 461-nm MOT of strontium without increasing the experimental complexity. This is achieved via saturation of the 1S0→3P1 intercombination-line transition with intense resonant light. This continuously populates a short-living reservoir in the 3P1 state and shields part of the atoms from the intrinsic losses of the 461-nm MOT cooling cycle. Such enhancement approximately doubles the atom number of the MOT of bosonic (88Sr and 84Sr) or fermionic (87Sr) isotopes. Most of the strontium experiments can readily apply this technique without changes in the apparatus. I will also discuss the application of the shielding mechanism to other atomic species.