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arXiv · 1505.00758

Low-noise optical lattices for ultracold $^6$Li

S. Blatt·A. Mazurenko·M. F. Parsons·C. S. Chiu·F. Huber·M. Greiner
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Abstract

We demonstrate stable, long-term trapping of fermionic $^6$Li atoms in an optical lattice with MHz trap frequencies for use in a quantum gas microscope. Adiabatic release from the optical lattice in the object plane of a high-numerical-aperture imaging system allows a measurement of the population distribution among the lowest three bands in both radial directions with atom numbers as low as $7\times 10^2$. We measure exponential ground band heating rates as low as 0.014(1) s$^{-1}$ corresponding to a radial ground state $1/e$ lifetime of 71(5) s, fundamentally limited by scattering of lattice photons. For all lattice depths above 2 recoil, we find radial ground state lifetimes $\ge 1.6 \times 10^6$ recoil times.

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S. Blatt, A. Mazurenko, M. F. Parsons, C. S. Chiu, F. Huber, M. Greiner. 2015-05-04. Low-noise optical lattices for ultracold $^6$Li. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.92.021402

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