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arXiv · 0809.0936

Inelastic and elastic collision rates for triplet states of ultracold strontium

A. Traverso·R. Chakraborty·Y. N. Martinez de Escobar·P. G. Mickelson·S. B. Nagel·M. Yan·T. C. Killian
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Abstract

We report measurement of the inelastic and elastic collision rates for ^{88}Sr atoms in the (5s5p)^3P_0 state in a crossed-beam optical dipole trap. This is the first measurement of ultracold collision properties of a ^3P_0 level in an alkaline-earth atom or atom with similar electronic structure. Since the (5s5p)^3P_0 state is the lowest level of the triplet manifold, large loss rates indicate the importance of principle-quantum-number-changing collisions at short range. We also provide an estimate of the collisional loss rates for the (5s5p){^3P_2} state.

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A. Traverso, R. Chakraborty, Y. N. Martinez de Escobar, P. G. Mickelson, S. B. Nagel, M. Yan, T. C. Killian. 2008-09-05. Inelastic and elastic collision rates for triplet states of ultracold strontium. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.79.060702

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