Mainz 2026 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 9: Ultracold Matter III – Fermions (joint session Q/A)
A 9.7: Talk
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 12:30–12:45, P 2
Overcoming Atom Loss During Cooling Utilizing Two-Photon Repumping for Ytterbium — •Michael Huber1,2, René Villela1,2, Er Zu1,2, Ronen Kroeze1,2, and Monika Aidelsburger1,2 — 1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität — 2Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik
Neutral ytterbium atoms provide a clock state pair whose precise state-dependent control enables a novel approach to quantum simulation and computation. Enhanced, state-selective control can be realized by leveraging magic and tune-out wavelengths. Additionally, these states enable direct access to the 3D ground state via resolved sideband cooling. However , imperfect repumping efficiency during cooling leads to a non-negligible population accumulating in the anti-trapped 3P2 state, causing losses. Here, we demonstrate a method to suppress this loss channel by implementing a coherent two-photon transition from 3P0 to 3P1. We report a laser-stabilization scheme in which we use a high finesse cavity transferring the stability from the clock laser to the two-photon-repumping lasers. This approach provides robust control of the repumping dynamics and substantially mitigates losses during ground state cooling.
Keywords: ytterbium; clock line; cooling