Bose-Einstein condensation of 86Sr

TL;DR

This paper reports the successful creation of Bose-Einstein condensates of 86Sr, overcoming challenges posed by high three-body losses through low-density evaporative cooling, resulting in nearly pure condensates of 5,000 atoms.

Contribution

First demonstration of Bose-Einstein condensation in 86Sr using low-density evaporative cooling to mitigate high three-body losses.

Findings

Achieved nearly pure condensates of 5,000 atoms.

Implemented low-density evaporative cooling in a large volume optical trap.

Demonstrated feasibility of BEC with high scattering length isotope.

Abstract

We report on the attainment of Bose-Einstein condensation of 86Sr. This isotope has a scattering length of about +800 a0 and thus suffers from fast three-body losses. To avoid detrimental atom loss, evaporative cooling is performed at low densities around 3x10^12 cm^-3 in a large volume optical dipole trap. We obtain almost pure condensates of 5x10^3 atoms.