We report the creation of ultracold ground state ⁶Li⁴⁰K polar molecules with high efficiency. Starting from weakly-bound molecules state, stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) is adopted to coherently transfer the molecules to their singlet ro-vibrational ground state |X1S+,v=0,J=0>. By employing a singlet STIRAP pathway and low-phase-noise narrow-linewidth lasers, we observed a one-way transfer efficiency of 96(4)%. Held in an optical dipole trap, the lifetime of the ground-state molecules is measured to be 5.0(3) ms. The large permanent dipole moment of LiK is confirmed by applying a DC electric field on the molecules and performing Stark shift spectroscopy of the ground state. With recent advances in the quantum control of collisions, our work paves the way for exploring quantum many-body physics with strongly-interacting ⁶Li⁴⁰K molecules.

We present the comparison of a field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) based digital servo module with an analog counterpart for the purpose of laser frequency stabilization to a high-finesse optical cavity. The transfer functions of both the digital and analog modules for proportional-integral-derivative control are measured. For the lasers stabilized to the cavity, we measure the singe-sideband power spectral density of fast phase noise by means of an optical beat with filtered light transmitted through the cavity. The comparison between the digital and analog modules is performed for two low-phase-noise diode lasers at 1120 and 665 nm wavelengths. The performance of the digital servo module compares well to the analog one for the lowest attained levels of 30 mrad for the integrated phase noise and 10^-3 for the relative noise power. The laser linewidth is determined to be in the sub-kHz regime, only limited by the high-finesse cavity. Our work exploits the versatility of the FPGA-based servo module (STEMlab) when used with open-source software and hardware modifications. We demonstrated that such modules are suitable candidates for remote-controlled low-phase-noise applications in the fields of laser spectroscopy and atomic, molecular, and optical physics.

We report on a high-resolution spectroscopic survey of 6Li40K molecules near the 2S+4P dissociation threshold and produce a fully empirical representation for the B1Π potential by connecting available short- and long-range data. The purpose is to identify a suitable intermediate state for a coherent Raman transfer to the absolute ground state, and the creation of a molecular gas with dipolar interactions. Starting from weakly bound ultracold Feshbach molecules, the transition frequencies to twenty-six vibrational states are determined. Our data are combined with long-range measurements [Ridinger et al., EPL, 2011, 96, 33001], and near-dissociation expansions for the spin-orbit coupled potentials are fitted to extract the C6 dispersion coefficients. A suitable vibrational level is identified by resolving its Zeeman structure and by comparing the experimentally attained g-factor to our theoretical prediction. Using mass-scaling of the short-range data for the B1Π [Pashov et al., Chem. Phys. Lett., 1998, 292, 615-620] and an updated value for its depth, we model the short- and the long-range data simultaneously and produce a Rydberg-Klein-Rees curve covering the entire range.

Starting from weakly bound Feshbach molecules, we demonstrate a two-photon pathway to the dipolar ground state of bi-alkali molecules that involves only singlet-to-singlet optical transitions. This pathway eliminates the search for a suitable intermediate state with sufficient singlet-triplet mixing and the exploration of its hyperfine structure, as is typical for pathways starting from triplet dominated Feshbach molecules. By selecting a Feshbach state with a stretched singlet hyperfine component and controlling the laser polarizations, we assure coupling to only single hyperfine components of the A1Σ+ excited potential and the X1Σ+ rovibrational ground state. In this way an ideal three level system is established, even if the hyperfine structure is not resolved. We demonstrate this pathway with 6Li40K molecules, and discuss its application to other important molecular species.

We updated our library to access Microsoft OneNote (Office 365) from LabView for automated lab journal writing. The current solution is based on OAuth 2.0.We share the code on GitHub.

We present an efficient scheme to implement a gray optical molasses for sub-Doppler cooling of Li atoms with minimum experimental overhead. To integrate the D1 light for the gray molasses (GM) cooling into the same optical set-up that is used for the D2 light for a standard magneto-optical trap (MOT), we rapidly switch the injection seeding of a slave laser between the D2 and D1 light sources. Switching times as short as 30 microseconds can be achieved, inferred from monitor optical beat signals. The resulting low-intensity molasses cools a sample of 9x108 atoms to about 60 microkelvin. A maximum phase-space density of 1.2x10-5 is observed. On the same set-up, the performance of the GM is compared to that of narrow-line cooling in a UV MOT. Further, we compare the production of a degenerate Fermi gas using both methods. Loading an optical dipole trap from the gray molasses yields a quantum degenerate sample with 3.3x105 atoms, while loading from the denser UV MOT yields 2.4x106 atoms. Where the highest atom numbers are not a priority this implementation of the gray molasses technique yields sufficiently large samples at a comparatively low technical effort.

Congratualtions to Mark Lam!

We report on a transfer-lock laser frequency stabilization that utilizes a frequency comb (FC) and a radio frequency counter referenced to a GPS frequency standard to compen-sate for the frequency drifts of two lasers, which are locked to a single passive Fabry-Perot resonator (FPR). The method requires only one optical phase lock with the FC and allows transfer locking of lasers at wavelengths beyond the usable range of the FC. To at-tain a large frequency tuning range for the lasers, we implement optical serrodyning. We further demonstrate an efficient scheme to suppress residual amplitude modulation, thereby improving the stability of the Pound-Drever-Hall lock used in this case. The abso-lute frequency stability was found to be better than 2x1013 on timescales up to 300s. Hence, together with the frequency stability on short timescales provided by the FPR, this scheme facilitates coherent Raman spectroscopy as needed for an example for the production of ultracold dipolar heteronuclear molecules.

The 22nd International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy (ICOLS) took place in Singapore on June 28 - Jul 3. ICOLS features the latest developments in the area of laser spectroscopy and related topics in atomic, molecular, and optical physics and other disciplines. The talks covered a broad range of exciting physics, such as precision tests of fundamental symmetries with atoms and molecules, atomic clocks, quantum many-body physics with ultra-cold atoms, atom interferometry, quantum information science with photons and ions, quantum optics, and ultra-fast atomic and molecular dynamics.

Congratualtions to Sambit Pal!

Congratualtions to Christian Gross!

This roadmap bundles fast developing topics in experimental optical quantum sciences, addressing current challenges as well as potential advances in future research. We have focused on three main areas: quantum assisted high precision measurements, quantum information/simulation, and quantum gases. Quantum assisted high precision measurements are discussed in the first three sections, which review optical clocks, atom interferometry, and optical magnetometry. These fields are already successfully utilized in various applied areas. We will discuss approaches to extend this impact even further. In the quantum information/ simulation section, we start with the traditionally successful employed systems based on neutral atoms and ions. In addition, the marvelous demonstrations of systems suitable for quantum information is not progressing, unsolved challenges remain and will be discussed. We will also review, as an alternative approach, the utilization of hybrid quantum systems based on superconducting quantum devices and ultracold atoms. Novel developments in atomtronics promise unique access in exploring solid-state systems with ultracold gases and are investigated in depth. The sections discussing the continuously fast-developing quantum gases include a review on dipolar heteronuclear diatomic gases, Rydberg gases, and ultracold plasma. Overall, we have accomplished a roadmap of selected areas undergoing rapid progress in quantum optics, highlighting current advances and future challenges. These exciting developments and vast advances will shape the field of quantum optics in the future.

We report on an efficient production scheme for a large quantum degenerate sample of fermionic lithium. The approach is based on our previous work on narrow-line 2S1/2→3P3/2 laser cooling resulting in a high phase-space density of up to 3x10-4. This allows utilizing a large volume crossed optical dipole trap with a total power of 45 W, leading to high loading efficiency and 8x106 trapped atoms. The same optical trapping configuration is used for rapid adiabatic transport over a distance of 25 cm in 0.9 s, and subsequent evaporative cooling. With optimized evaporation we achieve a degenerate Fermi gas with 1.7x106 atoms at a temperature of 60 nK, corresponding to T/TF=0.16(2). Furthermore, the performance is demonstrated by evaporation near a broad Feshbach resonance creating a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate of 3x105 lithium dimers.

The 22nd International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy took place on 28 Jun - Jul 3, 2015 in Singapore. The conference was organized by the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT).

Thank you for travelling to Singapore and your contributions to a successful conference!

We report an experimental study of peak and phase-space density of a two-stage magneto-optical trap (MOT) of 6Li atoms, which exploits the narrower 2S1/2→3P3/2 ultra-violet (UV) transition at 323nm following trapping and cooling on the more common D2 transition at 671nm. The UV MOT is loaded from a red MOT and is compressed to give a high phase-space density up to 3x10-4. Temperatures as low as 33μK are achieved on the UV transition. We study the density limiting factors and in particular find a value for the light-assisted collisional loss coefficient of 1.3(±0.4)x10-10cm3/s for low repumping intensity.

Prof. Walraven, University of Amsterdam, is visiting our group from Jan until May, 2014. Throughout the semester he will teach this fully creditable module:

PC5239: "Quantum gases collisions and statistics"
This course introduces basic concepts of the physics of ultra-cold quantum gases - low-density gases of neutral atoms studied at (sub)microkelvin temperatures. Quantum gases are important both from the fundamental point of view and for their potential application in quantum information processing. The course is focused on quantum collisions and quantum statistics as these phenomena provide the underpinning for the very existence of the field. A systematic introduction is given into the quantum mechanics of low-energy collisions and the consequences of the quantum statistical nature of the collision partners for the behavior of the gas. The students will learn to distinguish between varieties of collisional phenomena and understand their consequences both from the kinetic and the thermodynamic point of view.
Module flyer.

The 22nd International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy will take place in Singapore.

ICOLS 2015 will be held on June 28 - Jul 3, at the Shangri La - Rasa Sentosa Resort on Sentosa Island. The conference organization is supported by the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT), which is located at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Further information: ICOLS2015 website.

CQT´s picture wizard Daniel Oi photorgraphed one of our labs with a wide angle lens, stitched the shots together, and made them available in streetview style. Zoom into our lab here.

In an industry collaboration with TEM Messtechnik GmbH, Hannover, Germany, we report on a calibration procedure that enhances the precision of an interferometer based frequency stabilization by several orders of magnitude. For this purpose, the frequency deviations of the stabilization are measured precisely by means of a frequency comb. This allows us to implement several calibration steps that compensate different systematic errors. The resulting frequency deviation is shown to be less than 5.7 MHz (rms 1.6 MHz) in the whole wavelength interval 750795 nm. Wide tuning of a stabilized laser at this exceptional precision is demonstrated.

In a collaborative theoretical study by researchers from Munich, Innsbruck, Bologna, Lyon, Wyoming, Santa Barbara, and Singapore we present a systematic investigation of attractive binary mixtures in the presence of both spin- and massimbalance in one-dimensional setups described by the Hubbard model. After discussing typical cold atomic experimental realizations and the relation between microscopic and effective parameters, we study several many-body features of trapped Fermi-Fermi and Bose-Bose mixtures such as density profiles, momentum distributions, and correlation functions by means of density-matrix-renormalization-group and quantum Monte Carlo simulations. In particular, we focus on the stability of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov, dimer, and trimer fluids in inhomogeneous situations, as typically realized in cold gas experiments due to the harmonic confinement. We finally consider possible experimental signatures of these phases both in the presence of a finite polarization and of a finite temperature.

For our experiments with ultracold atoms and molecules we recently installed a commercial frequency comb system that can serve as a frequency reference for multiple application lasers. The system is operating in our lab and sharing the frequency comb with two other laboratories in CQT. We are using a sub-kiloherz linewidth diode laser stabilized to a highly stable optical reference resonator (design - courtesy by Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics, Munich, Germany.) in order to improve the short time stability of the comb system.

We investigate s-wave interactions in a two-species Fermi-Fermi mixture of ⁶Li and ⁴⁰K. We develop for this case the method of cross-dimensional relaxation and find from a kinetic model, Monte Carlo simulations, and measurements that the individual relaxation rates differ due to the mass difference. The method is applied to measure the elastic cross section at the Feshbach resonance that we previously used for the production of heteronuclear molecules. Location (B₀=154.71(5) G) and width are determined for this resonance. This reveals that molecules are being produced on the atomic side of the resonance within a range related to the Fermi energies, therefore establishing the first observation of a many body effect in the crossover regime of a narrow Feshbach resonance.

In March 2010 we transfered the experimental setup from Munich to Singapore. The experiment had been developed in the group of Prof. Hänsch at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich.

We report on the first creation of ultracold bosonic heteronuclear molecules of two fermionic species, ⁶Li and ⁴⁰K, by a magnetic field sweep across an interspecies s-wave Feshbach resonance. This allows us to associate up to 4×10⁴ molecules with high efficiencies of up to 50%. Using direct imaging of the molecules, we measure increased lifetimes of the molecules close to resonance of more than 100ms in the molecule-atom mixture stored in a harmonic trap.

We report on the generation of a quantum degenerate Fermi-Fermi mixture of two different atomic species. The quantum degenerate mixture is realized employing sympathetic cooling of fermionic ⁶Li and ⁴⁰K gases by an evaporatively cooled bosonic ⁸⁷Rb gas. We describe the combination of trapping and cooling methods that proved crucial to successfully cool the mixture. In particular, we study the last part of the cooling process and show that the efficiency of sympathetic cooling of the ⁶Li gas by ⁸⁷Rb is increased by the presence of ⁴⁰K through catalytic cooling. Because of the differing physical properties of the two components, the quantum degenerate ⁶Li-⁴⁰K Fermi-Fermi mixture is an excellent candidate for a stable, heteronuclear system allowing the study of several so far unexplored types of quantum matter.

We report on the simultaneous trapping of two fermionic species, ⁶Li and ⁴⁰K, and a bosonic species, ⁸⁷Rb demonstrating the first three-species magneto-optical trap: "Triple MOT". The apparatus including the atom sources and the three laser systems is described, and the single-species MOTs and the triple MOT are characterized. In triple MOT operation, typical atom numbers of 3.2×10⁷ for ⁶Li, 1.5×10⁷ for ⁴⁰K, and 5.4×10⁹ for ⁸⁷Rb were achieved. Trap loss due to interspecies collisions was observed.We describe our way to optimize the triple MOT and turn it into a suitable source for the goal to achieve quantum degeneracy by evaporative and sympathetic cooling.