Observation of roton quasiparticles in Erbium
In collaboration with our theory collaborators from Innsbruck and Hannover, we have observed for the first time so-called roton quasiparticles in an ultracold bosonic gas of erbium atoms.
Our dipolar quantum gas group …
…we work with highly magnetic Erbium and Dysprosium atoms, which we cool to Nanokelvin temperatures in oder to explore the fascinating physics of the quantum world.
Working in ultrahigh vacuum
All our experiments are carried out at pressures of 10^(-11) mbar. In order to achieve these ultrahigh vacuums, carefully designed chambers need to be machined and assembled.
Trapping and cooling of quantum particles
In order to trap and cool Erbium and Dysprosium in magneto optical traps, we use one of their narrow-linewidth transitions. These transitions need yellow laser light for Erbium and red one for Dysprosium.
Trapping ultracold quantum particles
In order to investigate quamtumphysics, we need high power lasers to trap atoms. In our experiments we utilise for example green light to realise an optical lattice in which the atoms can be arranged on a periodic crystal structure.
Back in 2010
Yes, it started like this with our optical table arriving under the snow…
Crossover from a BEC to a macrodroplet
Together with our theory colleagues from Hannover, we have investigated the formation of a macrodroplet state in an ultracold bosonic gas of erbium atoms.
The group, led by Francesca Ferlaino, is located at the Institute for Experimental Physics (IExP) of the University of Innsbruck and at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
