# Dual Hg-Rb magneto-optical trap

## TL;DR

This paper describes a dual-species magneto-optical trap for Rb and Hg atoms, detailing the apparatus and addressing challenges like photoionization and collision losses, demonstrating successful simultaneous trapping.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel setup for trapping Rb and Hg atoms simultaneously, including analysis of photoionization and collision effects.

## Key findings

- Successful simultaneous trapping of Rb and Hg atoms.
- Photoionization causes Rb atom loss but does not prevent trapping.
- Interspecies collisions induce additional losses.

## Abstract

We present a two-species laser cooling apparatus capable of simultaneously collecting Rb and Hg atomic gases into a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The atomic sources, laser system, and vacuum set-up are described. While there is a loss of Rb atoms in the MOT due to photoionization by the Hg cooling laser, we show that it does not prevent simultaneous trapping of Rb and Hg. We also demonstrate interspecies collision-induced losses in the ${}^{87}$Rb-${}^{202}$Hg system.