Eur. Phys. J. D 7, 331-340 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050576

Cold inelastic collisions between lithium and cesium in a two-species magneto-optical trap

Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, 69029 Heidelberg, Germany

Received: 28 December 1998
Revised: 16 February 1999
Published online: 15 October 1999

Abstract

We investigate collisional properties of lithium and cesium which are simultaneously confined in a combined magneto-optical trap. Trap-loss collisions between the two species are comprehensively studied. Different inelastic collision channels are identified, and inter-species rate coefficients as well as cross-sections are determined. It is found that loss rates are independent of the optical excitation of Li, as a consequence of the repulsive Li^*-Cs interaction. Li and Cs loss by inelastic inter-species collisions can completely be attributed to processes involving optically excited cesium (fine-structure changing collisions and radiative escape). By lowering the trap depth for Li, an additional loss channel of Li is observed which results from ground-state Li-Cs collisions changing the hyperfine state of cesium.