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Bose-Einstein Condensation of Alkaline Earth Atoms: Ca40

Sebastian Kraft, Felix Vogt, Oliver Appel, Fritz Riehle, and Uwe Sterr
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 130401 – Published 21 September 2009
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Abstract

We have achieved Bose-Einstein condensation of Ca40, the first for an alkaline earth element. The influence of elastic and inelastic collisions associated with the large ground-state s-wave scattering length of Ca40 was measured. From these findings, an optimized loading and cooling scheme was developed that allowed us to condense about 2×104 atoms after laser cooling in a two-stage magneto-optical trap and subsequent forced evaporation in a crossed dipole trap within less than 3 s. The condensation of an alkaline earth element opens novel opportunities for precision measurements on the narrow intercombination lines as well as investigations of molecular states at the S1P3 asymptotes.

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  • Received 10 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.130401

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Getting the calcium you need

Published 28 September 2009

A Bose-Einstein condensate of calcium atoms has been created, the first from alkaline earth elements and potentially useful for stable clocks and precision measurements.

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Authors & Affiliations

Sebastian Kraft*, Felix Vogt, Oliver Appel, Fritz Riehle, and Uwe Sterr

  • Physikalisch–Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany

  • *sebastian.kraft@ptb.de

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 13 — 25 September 2009

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