Magic Wavelengths of the Yb $6s^2{}\,^1S_0-6s6p\,{}^3P_1$ Intercombination Transition

TL;DR

This paper combines theoretical calculations and experimental measurements to determine the magic wavelengths of the Yb 6s^2 1S0-6s6p 3P1 transition, facilitating improved laser cooling techniques.

Contribution

It provides the first combined ab initio calculation and experimental measurement of magic wavelengths for this transition in ytterbium.

Findings

Magic wavelengths are 1035.68(4) nm and 1036.12(3) nm for different polarization transitions.

Calculated and measured values are in good agreement.

Results enable optimized laser cooling in optical dipole traps.

Abstract

We calculate and measure the magic wavelengths for the $6s^2{}\,^1S_0-6s6p\,{}^3P_1$ intercombination transition of the neutral ytterbium atom. The calculation is performed with the \textit{ab initio} configuration interaction (CI) + all-order method. The measurement is done with laser spectroscopy on cold atoms in an optical dipole trap. The magic wavelengths are determined to be 1035.68(4) nm for the $\pi$ transition ($\Delta m = 0$) and 1036.12(3) nm for the $\sigma$ transitions ($|\Delta m| = 1$) in agreement with the calculated values. Laser cooling on the narrow intercombination transition could achieve better results for atoms in an optical dipole trap when the trap wavelength is tuned to near the magic wavelength.