Trap loss rate for heteronuclear cold collisions in two species magneto-optical trap

Abstract

In this paper we review the present status on heteronuclear trap loss rate (\(\beta^{\prime}\)) for alkali mixtures held in a magneto-optical trap (Na-K, Na-Rb, Na-Cs, K-Rb, Rb-Cs, Li-Cs). The intensity dependence of the \(\beta^{\prime}\) for the mixture Cs-K is also presented for the first time in this report. The measurement techniques and a semiclassical model, considering both excited-ground and doubly excited channels, are reviewed. The comparison between the model and the experimental results indicates that radiative escape may be the dominant loss process for heteronuclear cold collisions. The obtained values for the crossed species trap loss indicate possibilities of future experiments involving such mixtures in a two species condensate.