Bose-Einstein condensation of alkaline earth atoms: $^{40}${Ca}
Quantum Gases
2009-09-24 v2 Atomic Physics
Abstract
We have achieved Bose-Einstein condensation of Ca, 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 Ca was measured. From these findings, an optimized loading and cooling scheme was developed that allowed us to condense about 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 S--P asymptotes.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.0908.0248,
title = {Bose-Einstein condensation of alkaline earth atoms: $^{40}${Ca}},
author = {Sebastian Kraft and Felix Vogt and Oliver Appel and Fritz Riehle and Uwe Sterr},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0908.0248},
year = {2009}
}