Low-noise optical lattices for ultracold 6Li

We demonstrate stable, long-term trapping of fermionic ⁶Li atoms in an optical lattice with MHz trap frequencies for use in a quantum gas microscope. Adiabatic release from the optical lattice in the object plane of a high-numerical-aperture imaging system allows a measurement of the population distribution among the lowest three bands in both radial directions with atom numbers as low as 7 ×10² . We measure exponential ground band heating rates as low as 0.014(1) s^-1 corresponding to a radial ground-state 1 /e lifetime of 71 (5 )s , fundamentally limited by scattering of lattice photons. For all lattice depths above 2 recoil, we find radial ground-state lifetimes ≥1.6 ×10⁶ recoil times.