A two element magneto-optical trap (MOT) in standard configuration for Na and ⁷Li or ⁶Li is used to cool and trap Na and one Li isotope simultaneously or separately. The metal background vapor out of which the atoms are trapped comes from dispensers. The two atom clouds can be slightly shifted what makes it easy to overlap them. The number and density of the clouds were determined and the temperature measured roughly. The mutual influence of the clouds was investigated and turned out to be smaller than the noise. Preliminary experiments working towards the production of heteronuclear cold molecules by photoassociation were performed, showing the well known production of Na₂ long- range molecules. Additionally, the photoionization cross- section was determined by ionizing cold atoms in the excited state by UV-laser light. The results are in reasonable agreement with data obtained elsewhere using synchrotron radiation.

Date Published: 9 April 2001
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 4397, 11th International School on Quantum Electronics: Laser Physics and Applications, (9 April 2001); doi: 10.1117/12.425119

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4397:
11th International School on Quantum Electronics: Laser Physics and Applications
Peter A. Atanasov; Stefka Cartaleva, Editor(s)