Bose-Einstein Condensation of Alkaline Earth Atoms: Ca40
Abstract
We have achieved Bose-Einstein condensation of Ca40, the first for an alkaline earth element. The influence of elastic and inelastic collisions associated with the large ground-state s-wave scattering length of Ca40 was measured. From these findings, an optimized loading and cooling scheme was developed that allowed us to condense about 2×104 atoms after laser cooling in a two-stage magneto-optical trap and subsequent forced evaporation in a crossed dipole trap within less than 3 s. The condensation of an alkaline earth element opens novel opportunities for precision measurements on the narrow intercombination lines as well as investigations of molecular states at the S1-P3 asymptotes.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- September 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.130401
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0908.0248
- Bibcode:
- 2009PhRvL.103m0401K
- Keywords:
-
- Static properties of condensates;
- thermodynamical;
- statistical;
- and structural properties;
- Bose-Einstein condensates in optical potentials;
- 03.75.Hh;
- 67.85.Hj;
- Static properties of condensates;
- thermodynamical statistical and structural properties;
- Bose-Einstein condensates in optical potentials;
- Condensed Matter - Quantum Gases;
- Physics - Atomic Physics
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 130401 (2009)