Development of an Ultracold Rubidium-85 System for Magnetic Molecules and Feshbach Physics

Author

Elana K. Urbach, College of William and MaryFollow

Date Thesis Awarded

4-2014

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Physics

Advisor

Seth Aubin

Committee Members

Henry Krakauer

Gunter Luepke

Abstract

This thesis presents progress on a path to Rubidium-85 Feshbach molecules that could be used for magnetometery and other experiments. An apparatus including a magneto-optical trap, magnetic trap, and dual laser dipole trap has been modified for studies of the 155 G Feshbach resonance and associated production of ultracold Rubidium-85 molecules. Modifications include changes in the optical pumping technique to spin-polarize Rubidium-85 atoms in the F=2, m_F =-2 hyperfine state. In addition, we constructed a dual 6.8 GHz and 3.0 GHz source and a 3 GHz microwave amplifier to evaporatively cool Rubidium-87 and Rubidium-85 and allow for more control of the atomic spin. These modifications and techniques will aid in manipulating the atomic spins in future experiments. As an example, we perform microwave spectroscopy on Rubidium-85 atoms from which we infer a residual magnetic field in the MOT cell of 170 +/- 5 mG. We also found the |F=2, m_F = 0> to |F=3, m_F = 0> transition to have a Rabi Frequency of 8.9 +/- 0.5 kHz, the |F=2, m_F = 0> to |F=3, m_F = -1> transition to have a Rabi frequency of 10.1 +/- 0.5 kHz, and the |F=2, m_F = 0> to |F=3, m_F = +1> transition to have a Rabi frequency of 11.0 +/- 0.5 kHz.

Recommended Citation

Urbach, Elana K., "Development of an Ultracold Rubidium-85 System for Magnetic Molecules and Feshbach Physics" (2014). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 83.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/83

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