Mixture of ultracold lithium and cesium atoms in an optical dipole trap

• DOI: 10.1007/s003400100743
• Publication Date: 2002-10-06T12:06:42Z
• Authors: A. Mosk; S. Kraft; M. Mudrich; K. Singer; W. Wohlleben; R. Grimm; M. Weidemüller
• Keywords: Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph); 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; 01 natural sciences; Physics - Atomic Physics

We present the first simultaneous trapping of two different ultracold atomic species in a conservative trap. Lithium and cesium atoms are stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO$_2$ laser. Techniques for loading both species of atoms are discussed and observations of elastic and inelastic collisions between the two species are presented. A model for sympathetic cooling of two species with strongly different mass in the presence of slow evaporation is developed. From the observed Cs-induced evaporation of Li atoms we estimate a cross section for cold elastic Li-Cs collisions.<br/>10 pages 9 figures, submitted to Appl. Phys. B; v2: Corrected evaporation formulas and some postscript problems<br/>