Progress Towards a Magneto-Optical Trap of Titanium
Abstract
We report on experimental progress towards a magneto-optical trap of bosonic 48Ti. Unlike previously laser-cooled atoms, Ti's ground state ([Ar] 4s2 3d2 a3F2) supports strong anisotropic atom-light interactions with off-resonant light. The a3F2 state's magnetic moment is on par with an alkali atom (∼ 4 / 3μB), suppressing long-range dipolar interactions between Ti atoms and extending spin-mixture lifetimes compared to more magnetic atoms. The a3F2 state does not have a closed transition amenable to laser cooling. However, the metastable state ([Ar] 4 s 3d3 a5F5) does posses such a transition at 498 nm with a linewidth of 10.5 MHz (TD = 250 μK). We report on the production of a beam of atomic Ti from an effusive oven, as well as the optical pumping of the atomic beam into the metastable a5F5 state. Progress towards magneto-optical trapping of Ti is presented, as well as future plans to achieve a quantum degenerate gas of Ti atoms.
Heising-Simons Foundation, ARO.- Publication:
-
APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020APS..DMPE01129E