Tensorial analysis of the long-range interaction between metastable alkaline-earth-metal atoms

Santra, Robin; Greene, Chris H.

doi:10.1103/physreva.67.062713

Cited by 46 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…This strongly suggests that the inelastic loss is dominated by Zeeman sublevel changing processes (m-changing collisions). These may be induced by the Landau-Zener transition between the entrance s-wave channel and the higher partial waves with lower magnetic sublevels [27,28]. In contrast, in the 3 P 2 -3 P 2 collisions we observe a much higher inelastic rate that is spin independent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Spin-dependent collision of ultracold metastable atoms

et al. 2012

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Spin-polarized metastable atoms of ultracold ytterbium are trapped at high density and their inelastic collisional properties are measured. We reveal that in collisions of Yb( 3 P 2 ) with Yb( 1 S 0 ) there is relatively weak inelastic loss, but with a significant spin dependence consistent with Zeeman sublevel changes as being the dominant decay process. This is in strong contrast to our observations of Yb( 3 P 2 )-Yb( 3 P 2 ) collisional losses, which are, at low field, much more rapid and have essentially no spin dependence. Our results give a guideline to using the 3 P 2 states in many possible applications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Spin-dependent collision of ultracold metastable atoms

et al. 2012

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“…The algebra related to this is somewhat messy and the coefficients are presented in the formalism of Santra and Greene [19,22]. The intermediate dispersion coefficient between two 3 P J o states is defined as…”

Section: F the Van Der Waals Coefficientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of the triplet metastable states of the alkaline-earth-metal atoms

Mitroy

Bromley

2004

Phys. Rev. A

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The static and dynamic properties of the alkaline-earth-metal atoms in their metastable state are computed in a configuration interaction approach with a semiempirical model potential for the core. Among the properties determined are the scalar and tensor polarizabilities, the quadrupole moment, some of the oscillator strengths, and the dispersion coefficients of the van der Waals interaction. A simple method for including the effect of the core on the dispersion parameters is described.

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“…These atoms are set apart from the more commonly studied alkali metal atoms because collisions between 3 P 2 atoms are intrinsically anisotropic. Recent theory has investigated the effects of this anisotropy, including its interplay with magnetic field effects, which enable novel control of the scattering length [4], and multichannel collisions due to a strong coupling among the partial waves of relative motion [5,6]. Also, the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between 3 P 2 atoms is 9 times larger than that between alkali metal atoms.…”

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confidence: 99%

Inelastic Collisions in Optically Trapped Ultracold Metastable Ytterbium

et al. 2008

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We report measurement of inelastic loss in dense and cold metastable ytterbium (Yb[ 3 P2]). Use of an optical far-off-resonance trap enables us to trap atoms in all magnetic sublevels, removing multichannel collisional trap loss from the system. Trapped samples of Yb[ 3 P2] are produced at a density of 2×10 13 cm −3 and temperature of 2 µK. We observe rapid two-body trap loss of Yb[ 3 P2] and measure the inelastic collision rate constant 1.0(3)×10 −11 cm 3 s −1 . The existence of the finestructure changing collisions between atoms in the 3 P2 state is strongly suggested.PACS numbers: 37.10. De, There is increasing interest in ultracold two-electron atoms [1,2], such as the alkaline earth metals (e.g. Ca and Sr) and Yb. In particular, novel characteristics of the metastable 3 P 2 atoms have recently attracted attention, both for applications and for the study of their collisional properties [3]. These atoms are set apart from the more commonly studied alkali metal atoms because collisions between 3 P 2 atoms are intrinsically anisotropic. Recent theory has investigated the effects of this anisotropy, including its interplay with magnetic field effects, which enable novel control of the scattering length [4], and multichannel collisions due to a strong coupling among the partial waves of relative motion [5,6]. Also, the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between 3 P 2 atoms is 9 times larger than that between alkali metal atoms. This has led to theoretical predictions such as novel quantum phases and use in quantum information systems [7,8].In order to move toward study of these new possible features of 3 P 2 atoms, several laboratories have realized laser cooling and trapping of metastable two-electron atoms. Ca and Sr atoms decaying to the 3 P 2 state from the 1 P 1 state, which is the upper state in the 1 S 0 ↔ 1 P 1 magneto-optical trap (MOT) transition, have been successfully trapped in a magnetic trap [9]. Also, a MOT operating on the 3 P 2 ↔ 3 D 3 transition has been used to load a magnetic trap [10]. In spite of successes of these approaches, evaporative cooling of 3 P 2 atoms in a magnetic trap to reach Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) turned out to be unsuccessful due to trap loss caused by strong multichannel collision processes [5]. More recently, a similar large inelastic collision rate in Ca[ 3 P 2 , m J =2] was observed [11].The loss induced by multichannel collisions in a magnetic trap can be overcome by employing, instead of a magnetic trap, an optical far-off-resonance trap (FORT). According to Ref. [12], the FORT wavelength can be chosen so that atoms in every magnetic sublevel of the 3 P 2 state can be trapped with the same strength. As a result, although multichannel collisions can still occur, which distributes the atoms over the different magnetic sublevels, they will not lead to trap loss. Thus, any trap loss observed in such a trap must be due to a different physical mechanism. Study of these collisional properties is crucial to understanding the physics of these important class of atom...

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Tensorial analysis of the long-range interaction between metastable alkaline-earth-metal atoms

Cited by 46 publications

References 64 publications

Spin-dependent collision of ultracold metastable atoms

Spin-dependent collision of ultracold metastable atoms

Properties of the triplet metastable states of the alkaline-earth-metal atoms

Inelastic Collisions in Optically Trapped Ultracold Metastable Ytterbium

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