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Cold inelastic collisions between lithium and cesium in a two-species magneto-optical trap

U. Schlöder·H. Engler·U. Schünemann·R. Grimm·M. Weidemüller
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Abstract

We investigate collisional properties of lithium and cesium which are simultaneously confined in a combined magneto-optical trap. Trap-loss collisions between the two species are comprehensively studied. Different inelastic collision channels are identified, and inter-species rate coefficients as well as cross sections are determined. It is found that loss rates are independent of the optical excitation of Li, as a consequence of the repulsive Li$^*$-Cs interaction. Li and Cs loss by inelastic inter-species collisions can completely be attributed to processes involving optically excited cesium (fine-structure changing collisions and radiative escape). By lowering the trap depth for Li, an additional loss channel of Li is observed which results from ground-state Li-Cs collisions changing the hyperfine state of cesium.

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U. Schlöder, H. Engler, U. Schünemann, R. Grimm, M. Weidemüller. 1999-02-20. Cold inelastic collisions between lithium and cesium in a two-species magneto-optical trap. https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050576

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