Simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of bosonic and fermionic chromium atoms

We report on magneto-optical trapping of fermionic 53Cr atoms.
arXiv:0603028 (2006) / Phys. Rev. A 73, 053406 (2006)

A Zeeman-slowed atomic beam provides loading rates up to 3×106 s−1.

We present systematic characterization of the magneto-optical trap (MOT). We obtain up to 5×105 atoms in the steady-state MOT.

The atoms radiatively decay from the excited 𝑃 state into metastable 𝐷 states, and, due to the large dipolar magnetic moment of chromium atoms in these states, they can remain magnetically trapped in the quadrupole field gradient of the MOT.

We study the accumulation of metastable 53Cr atoms in this magnetic trap. We also report on the simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of bosonic 52Cr and fermionic 53Cr atoms.

Finally, we characterize the light-assisted collision losses in this Bose-Fermi cold mixture.

Schematic of the experimental chamber showing the MOT beams, the coupling of the ZS beam, and the MOT fluorescence detection.