7Li Atoms Research Articles

Modulation transfer spectroscopy in a lithium atomic vapor cell.

We have investigated modulation transfer spectroscopy of D2 transitions of 7Li atoms in a vapor cell. The role of the intensity of the probe beam in the spectrum is important, we have seen unique characteristics of the signal in the crossover peak. In order to find the best signal for laser locking, the slope and frequency offset of the zero-crossing signal are determined. The dependence of the modulation transfer spectra on polarizations of pump and probe beam is demonstrated. The residual amplitude modulation in the system is also considered, and the distortion of the spectra due to the modulation is analyzed. It was found that the crossover peak is more suitable for frequency stabilization due to its better residual amplitude modulation compensation.

Efimov Physics with a Finite-Range Parameter

Results obtained by the authors in recent works on the exploration of universality in systems living inside the Efimov window are critically analyzed. We discuss how to take into account finite-range corrections by introducing a finite-range parameter necessary to make comparisons to the universal predictions of the Efimov zero-range theory. Firstly we apply our analysis to two different calculations published by other authors. The first one has been used with success to describe ultracold Cs atoms close to a Feshbach resonance and the second one describes a four 4He atom system with a realistic interaction. Finally we use the finite-range parameter to analyze recombination data in experiments with ultracold 7Li atoms. The three selected cases support the introduction of the finite-range parameter as a valuable tool to extend the use of the zero-range theory to describe systems having finite-range interactions.

Observation of Rydberg Transitions in Resonance Fluorescence of Ultracold Lithium-7 Atoms

We describe our experimental technique for preparation and study of ultracold gas of Rydberg atoms. A magneto-optical trap for 7Li atoms is assembled. Using an ultraviolet laser, we perform a cw two-step excitation of atoms in the ground state to highly-excited states. For identification of highly-excited Rydberg states (n = 41 and 110), we record the resonance fluorescence of ultra-cold atoms in the trap.

Interspecies collision-induced losses in a dual species 7Li–85Rb magneto-optical trap

In this article, we report the measurement of collision-induced loss rate coefficients βLi, Rb and βRb, Li, and also discuss means to significantly suppress such collision-induced losses. We first describe our dual-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) that allows us to simultaneously trap ≥5 × 108 7Li atoms loaded from a Zeeman slower and ≥2 × 108 85Rb atoms loaded from a dispenser. We observe strong interspecies collision-induced losses in the MOTs which dramatically reduce the maximum atom number achievable in the MOTs. We measure the trap loss rate coefficients βLi, Rb and βRb, Li, and, from a study of their dependence on the MOT parameters, determine the cause for the losses observed. Our results provide valuable insights into ultracold collisions between 7Li and 85Rb, guide our efforts to suppress collision-induced losses, and also pave the way for the production of ultracold 7Li85Rb molecules.

Laser cooling of 7Li atoms in a magneto-optical trap

A setup for laser cooling and confining of 7Li atoms in a magneto-optical trap has been built. The possibility of cooling and trapping of 7Li atoms in a wide range of frequency detuning of the cooling laser has been proved experimentally. Independent information on the density and number of ultracold 7Li atoms on various ground-state sublevels, as well as on the temperature of the atoms, has been obtained with the use of a probing tunable laser. This information is important for preparing an ultracold plasma and Rydberg matter.

Zeeman slowing and magneto-optically trapping of lithium atoms in atomic interferometry experiments

To prepare cold lithium atoms for atomic interferometry experiments, we have carried out experimental researches on Zeeman deceleration and magneto-optical trap (MOT) of lithium atoms. We have also designed and implemented a compact adjustable Zeeman slower with an inner water cooling chamber, to decelerate the velocity of the 7Li atom beam from 600 m/s down to 60 m/s, and load them into the MOT. The loading rate is 5108 /s, the total trapped atom number is 1109 , and the lowest temperature of the atom cloud is 220 30 K. Then we investigate the dependence of lifetime of 7Li atoms in optical molasses on the detuning of trapping laser beams. The above results lay a foundation for further sub-Doppler cooling, optical trap based on evaporative cooling, and atomic interferometry experiments.

Optical pumping of a lithium atomic beam for atom interferometry

We apply optical pumping to prepare the lithium beam of our atom interferometer in a single hyperfine-Zeeman sublevel: we use two components of the D1-line for pumping the 7Li atoms in a dark state F,mF=+2 (or -2) sublevel. The optical pumping efficiency has been characterized by two techniques: state-selective laser atom deflection or magnetic dephasing of the atom interferometer signals. The first technique has not achieved a high sensitivity, because of a limited signal to noise ratio, but magnetic dephasing signals have shown that about 95% of the population has been transferred in the aimed sublevel, with similar results for three mean velocities of the atomic beam covering the range 744-1520m/s.

Λ-enhanced sub-Doppler cooling of lithium atoms inD1gray molasses

Following the bichromatic sub-Doppler cooling scheme on the D1 line of 40K recently demonstrated in (Fernandes et al. 2012), we introduce a similar technique for 7Li atoms and obtain temperatures of 60 uK while capturing all of the 5x10^8 atoms present from the previous stage. We investigate the influence of the detuning between the the two cooling frequencies and observe a threefold decrease of the temperature when the Raman condition is fulfilled. We interpret this effect as arising from extra cooling due to long-lived coherences between hyperfine states. Solving the optical Bloch equations for a simplified, \Lambda-type three-level system we identify the presence of an efficient cooling force near the Raman condition. After transfer into a quadrupole magnetic trap, we measure a phase space density of ~10^-5. This laser cooling offers a promising route for fast evaporation of lithium atoms to quantum degeneracy in optical or magnetic traps.

Parameters for Cold Collisions of Lithium and Caesium Atoms

We calculate the s-wave scattering length and effective range and the p-wave scattering volume for 7Li atoms interacting with 133Cs atoms via the X1Σ+ molecular potential. The length and volume are found by fitting the log-derivative of the zero energy wave function evaluated at short range to a long range expression that accounts for the leading van der Waals dispersion potential and then incorporating the remaining long range dispersion contributions to first order. The effective range is evaluated from a quadrature formula. The calculated parameters are checked from the zero energy limits of the scattering phase shifts. We comment on ill-conditioning in the calculated s-wave scattering length.

Calculation of scattering parameters for ultracold 6Li—7Li elastic collisions

This paper theoretically studies the elastic scattering properties in a mixture of 6Li and 7Li atoms at cold and ultracold temperatures. Based on the constructed accurate interatomic potential of the triplet state for 6Li7Li mixture by the mass scaling method, it calculates the interspecies s-wave scattering lengths and the p-wave scattering lengths by the variable phase method and the semiclassical method, respectively. The scattering length is in good agreement with the experiment. The partial-wave and total cross sections are also calculated and a rich resonance structure is found.

Error cancellation in the semiclassical calculation of the scattering length

We investigate the effects of two approximations concerning long range dispersion forces that are made in the derivation of the semiclassical formula for the scattering length of a pair of neutral atoms. We demonstrate numerically, using a published model interaction potential for a pair of Cs atoms in the \(^3{\rm\Sigma}_{\rm u}^+\) molecular state, that the subsequent long range errors tend to cancel and we show, from an approximate analytical relationship, that the first order errors do indeed largely cancel. We suggest a hybrid method that combines quantum mechanical and semiclassical calculations. We explore its use in finding the scattering lengths of 7Li atoms and 133Cs atoms interacting via the X\(^1{\rm\Sigma}^+\) and a\(^3{\rm\Sigma}^+\) molecular potentials and we use it to demonstrate that the semiclassical formula fails for cold collisions of H atoms in the X\(^1{\rm\Sigma}_{\rm g}^+\) molecular state because of the long range errors rather than because of inadequacies in describing the motion over the potential well semiclassically.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and collapse in bosonic Josephson junctions

We investigate an attractive atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped by a double-well potential in the axial direction and by a harmonic potential in the transverse directions. We obtain numerically, for the first time, a quantum phase diagram which includes all the three relevant phases of the system: Josephson, spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB), and collapse. We consider also the coherent dynamics of the BEC and calculate the frequency of population-imbalance mode in the Josephson phase and in the SSB phase up to the collapse. We show that these phases can be observed by using ultracold vapors of 7Li atoms in a magneto-optical trap.

Nuclear-Spin-Independent Short-Range Three-Body Physics in Ultracold Atoms

We investigate three-body recombination loss across a Feshbach resonance in a gas of ultracold 7Li atoms prepared in the absolute ground state and perform a comparison with previously reported results of a different nuclear-spin state [N. Gross, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 163202 (2009)]. We extend the previously reported universality in three-body recombination loss across a Feshbach resonance to the absolute ground state. We show that the positions and widths of recombination minima and Efimov resonances are identical for both states which indicates that the short-range physics is nuclear-spin independent.

Zero-temperature Properties of Attractive Bose-Einstein Condensate by Correlated Many-body Approach

We employ a correlated many-body approach to study Bose-Einstein condensation of a magnetically trapped gas of 7Li atoms. The properties of a trapped gas are strongly influenced by the attractive interactions and two-body correlations. The correlations lower the interaction energy. The lowlying collective frequencies have also been calculated. In addition we explore the frequency of surface modes as a function of angular momentum.

Probing the unitarity limit at low laser intensities

We show how photoassociation (PA) near a magnetically tuned Feshbach resonance can probe the unitarity limit at low laser intensities. This limit occurs when the scattering matrix element in the PA process reaches its quantum limit of one, and is usually difficult to access, requiring large laser intensities. We show how giant enhancements of the PA rate in the vicinity of a Feshbach resonance can reach it, and we predict the appearance of new features with varying magnetic fields and laser intensities. We investigate these effects for a Bose gas of 7Li atoms at temperatures near quantum degeneracy and give a simple analytical model. We discuss potential applications of our results, obtained without adjustable parameters, to high-precision spectroscopy.

Calculation of the elastic collision properties of Na and Li atoms at ultracold temperature

This paper firstly reports a theoretical study of elastic scattering properties in a mixture of 23Na and 7Li atoms at cold and ultracold temperatures in detail. Based on the new constructed accurate singlet X1 Σ+g and the triplet α3Σ+u states interatomic potentials for 23Na7Li mixture, it calculates the scattering lengths and the effective ranges by three computational methods, and obtains good agreements. Using the mass scaling method, it also calculates 23Na6Li scattering lengths and s-wave and total elastic cross sections, whose rich resonance structures were found and interpreted in terms of quasibound diatomic levels trapped behind a centrifugal barrier.

Accurate calculation of the elastic scattering properties of 7 Li atoms at ultralow temperatures

The elastic scattering properties for collisions between two 7Li atoms are investigated in the cold and ultracold regimes separately. Based on recent theoretical and experimental results, we present the improved hybrid potentials for the singlet X1∑g+ and triplet a3∑u+ ground states of the Li2. Our calculated values for the scattering lengths a and the effective ranges re are compared with previous ones and found them to be in good agreement. The scattering lengths are 34.6a0 for the singlet state and −27.6a0 for the triplet state. Shape resonances occur in the collisions at low energies. We also calculate the total cross sections and the energy positions of shape resonances for both X1∑g+ and a3∑u+ states.

Quantum Phases of 7Li Atoms in an Optical Lattice

We study the quantum phases that may arise when 7Li atoms that possess an attractive two-body interaction are loaded into an optical lattice. The phase diagram that we have obtained for 7Li atoms within a mean-field approximation is composed of the superfluid and Mott-insulator phases as for bosonic atoms with a repulsive two-body interaction. We have found that the repulsive three-body interaction plays a vital role in stabilizing the quantum phases of 7Li atoms in an optical lattice. The ground-state energy and the average atom number per lattice site in the quantum phases have been calculated and found to be consistent with the nature of these quantum phases. The excitation spectra of quasi-particles and quasi-holes in the Mott-insulator phase have also been calculated. In our general investigation of the effects of the three-body interaction that is allowed to vary, we have found that the energies of quasi-particles are substantially increased as the strength of the repulsive three-body interaction is raised, whereas the energies of quasi-holes are slightly decreased at low-filling factors of atoms and substantially decreased at large filling factors.

Boson–fermion demixing in a cloud of lithium atoms in a pancake trap

We evaluate the equilibrium state of a mixture of 7Li and 6Li atoms with repulsive interactions, confined inside a pancake-shaped trap under conditions such that the thickness of the bosonic and fermionic clouds is approaching the values of the s-wave scattering lengths. In this regime the effective couplings depend on the axial confinement and full demixing can become observable by merely squeezing the trap, without enhancing the scattering lengths through recourse to a Feshbach resonance.

Modulational Instability and Complex Dynamics of Confined Matter-Wave Solitons

We study the formation of bright solitons in a Bose-Einstein condensate of 7Li atoms induced by a sudden change in the sign of the scattering length from positive to negative, as reported in a recent experiment [Nature (London) 417, 150 (2002)]]. The numerical simulations are performed by using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a dissipative three-body term. We show that a number of bright solitons is produced and this can be interpreted in terms of the modulational instability of the time-dependent macroscopic wave function of the Bose condensate. In particular, we derive a simple formula for the number of solitons that is in good agreement with the numerical results. We find that during the motion of the soliton train in an axial harmonic potential the number of solitonic peaks changes in time and the density of individual peaks shows an intermittent behavior.