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arXiv · 2512.24177

High-flux cold lithium-6 and rubidium-87 atoms from compact two-dimensional magneto-optical traps

Yun-Xuan Lu·An-Wei Zhu·Christine E. Frank·Xin-Yi Huang·Xin-Yu Luo
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Abstract

We report a compact setup with in-series two-dimensional magneto-optical traps (2D MOTs) that provides high-flux cold lithium and rubidium atoms. Thanks to the efficient short-distance Zeeman slowing, the maximum 3D MOT loading rate of lithium atoms reaches a record value of $6.6\times 10^{9}$ atoms/s at a moderate lithium-oven temperature of 372 degrees Celsius, which is 44 times higher than that without the Zeeman slowing light. The flux of rubidium is also as high as $2.3\times10^9$ atoms/s with the rubidium oven held at room temperature. Meanwhile, the entire vacuum-chamber system, including an ultra-high-vacuum science cell, is within a small volume of $55\times65\times70~\mathrm{cm}^3$. Our work represents a substantial improvement over traditional bulky and complex dual-species cold-atom setups. It provides a good starting point for the fast production of a double-degenerate lithium-rubidium atomic mixture and large samples of ultracold lithium-rubidium ground-state molecules.

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Yun-Xuan Lu, An-Wei Zhu, Christine E. Frank, Xin-Yi Huang, Xin-Yu Luo. 2026-01-01. High-flux cold lithium-6 and rubidium-87 atoms from compact two-dimensional magneto-optical traps. https://doi.org/10.1103/g448-4p5n

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