Direct loading of a large Yb MOT on the 1S0 → 3P1 transition

Guttridge, A.; Hopkins, S.A.; Kemp, S.L.; Boddy, D.; Freytag, R.; Jones, M.P.A.; Tarbutt, M.R.; Hinds, E.A.; Cornish, S.L.

doi:10.1088/0953-4075/49/14/145006

Direct loading of a large Yb MOT on the 1S0 → 3P1 transition

Guttridge, A.; Hopkins, S.A.; Kemp, S.L.; Boddy, D.; Freytag, R.; Jones, M.P.A.; Tarbutt, M.R.; Hinds, E.A.; Cornish, S.L.

Authors

A. Guttridge

S.A. Hopkins

S.L. Kemp

D. Boddy

R. Freytag

M.P.A. Jones

M.R. Tarbutt

E.A. Hinds

Professor Simon Cornish s.l.cornish@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

We report a robust technique for laser frequency stabilisation that enables the reproducible loading of in excess of 109 Yb atoms from a Zeeman slower directly into a magneto-optical trap (MOT) operating on the 1S0 → 3P1 transition, without the need for a first stage MOT on the 1S0 → 1P1 transition. We use a simple atomic beam apparatus to generate narrow fluorescence signals on both the 399 nm 1S0 → 1P1 transition used for the Zeeman slower and the 556 nm 1S0 → 3P1 transition. We present in detail the methods for obtaining spectra with a high signalto-noise ratio and demonstrate error signals suitable for robust frequency stabilisation. Finally we demonstrate the stability and precision of our technique through sensitive measurements of the gravitational sag of the Yb MOT as a function of the intensity of the laser cooling beams, which are in good agreement with theory. These results will be important for efficient loading of the atoms into an optical dipole trap.

Citation

Guttridge, A., Hopkins, S., Kemp, S., Boddy, D., Freytag, R., Jones, M., …Cornish, S. (2016). Direct loading of a large Yb MOT on the 1S0 → 3P1 transition. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 49(14), Article 145006. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/49/14/145006

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	May 31, 2016
Online Publication Date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication Date	Jul 28, 2016
Deposit Date	Jun 30, 2016
Publicly Available Date	Jun 28, 2017
Journal	Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Print ISSN	0953-4075
Electronic ISSN	1361-6455
Publisher	IOP Publishing
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	49
Issue	14
Article Number	145006
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/49/14/145006

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Copyright Statement
This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in ournal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/49/14/145006