Quantum Physics
First quantum degenrate Fermi gas of Ytterbium in Hamburg
7 December 2012
Photo: AG Sengstock
We have successfully cooled fermionic 173Yb atoms to quantum degeneracy. Typically the Fermi seas we produce contain up to 5 *105 atoms at temperatures around 0.1 TF. Through internal state preparation it is possible to create either spin-polarized samples or vary the number of involved spin components from two to six.
Time-of-Flight absorption images (top row) and column-sums of the corresponding picture (bottom row) of fermionic Ytterbium atoms released from a crossed optical dipole trap.