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Magneto-optical trapping of a group-III atom

Xianquan Yu1, Jinchao Mo2, Tiangao Lu1, Ting You Tan2, and Travis L. Nicholson1,2,*

  • 1Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117543
  • 2Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117551

  • *nicholson@nus.edu.sg
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Phys. Rev. A 105, L061101 – Published 7 June, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.105.L061101

Abstract

We realize the first magneto-optical trap of an atom in main group III of the Periodic Table. Our atom of choice (indium) does not have a transition out of its ground state suitable for laser cooling; therefore, laser cooling is performed on the |5P3/2,F=6〉→|5D5/2,F=7〉 transition, where |5P3/2,F=6〉 is a long-lived metastable state. Optimization of our trap parameters results in atoms numbers as large as 5×108 atoms with temperatures of order 1 mK. Additionally, through trap decay measurements, we infer a one-body trap lifetime of 12.3s. This lifetime is consistent with background gas collisions and indicates that our repumpers have closed all leakage pathways. We also infer a two-body loss rate of 1.6×10−11cm3/s, which is comparable to those measured in alkali atoms. The techniques demonstrated in this Letter can be straightforwardly applied to other group-III atoms, and our results pave the way for realizing quantum degenerate gases of these particles.

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synopsis

New Class of Atom Cooled to Near Absolute Zero

Published 7 June, 2022

Researchers have cooled indium atoms to a temperature close to 1 mK, making indium the first group-III atom to be made ultracold.

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Information

Phys. Rev. A 105, L061101– Published 7 June, 2022
  • Received 14 April 2022
  • Accepted 3 May 2022
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