Hannover 2010 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 21: Poster I
Q 21.6: Poster
Dienstag, 9. März 2010, 16:00–19:00, Lichthof
Towards the realization of an erbium BEC — •Henning Brammer, Riad Bourouis, and Martin Weitz — Institut für Angewandte Physik, Universität Bonn, Wegelerstr. 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany
The erbium atom in its 4f12 6s2 3H6 ground state has a large orbital angular momentum of L = 5. Quantum gases realized so far have an S-ground state configuration, so that in far detuned laser fields with detuning above the upper state fine structure splitting the trapping potential is determined by the scalar electronic polarizability. In contrast, for an erbium quantum gas with its L > 0 ground state the trapping potential also for far detuned dissipation-less trapping laser fields becomes dependent on the internal atomic state (spin).
Moreover, Raman transitions between different ground state spin projections become possible with e.g. Nd:YAG laser fields, which can allow for a Fourier-synthesis of in principle arbitrarily shaped lattice potentials using the technique of multiphoton lattices. This has prospects for novel quantum phase transitions in e.g. strongly correlated frustrated lattice configurations.
We present experimental work aimed at the laser cooling and dipole trapping of atomic erbium, which should then allow for evaporative cooling towards quantum degeneracy. The setup including both our vacuum and optical system will be shown. For frequency stabilization of the cooling laser, we use a home-built erbium hollow chathode lamp. The laser frequency has been stabilized to the erbium cooling transition near 400.9 nm by Doppler-free FM-spectroscopy. These results and the current status of the cooling experiment will be reported.