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Magnetic merging of ultracold atomic gases of {sup 85}Rb and {sup 87}Rb

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)

We report the magnetic merging of ultracold atomic gases of {sup 85}Rb and {sup 87}Rb by the controlled overlap of two initially spatially separated magnetic traps. We present a detailed analysis of the combined magnetic-field potential as the two traps are brought together that predicts a clear optimum trajectory for the merging. We verify this prediction experimentally using {sup 85}Rb and find that the final atom number in the merged trap is maximized with minimal heating by following the predicted optimum trajectory. Using the magnetic-merging approach allows us to create variable-ratio isotopic Rb mixtures with a single laser-cooling setup by simply storing one isotope in a magnetic trap before jumping the laser frequencies to the transitions necessary to laser cool the second isotope.

OSTI ID:
21546846
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 83; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English