Bose-Einstein Condensation of Europium

Phys Rev Lett. 2022 Nov 23;129(22):223401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.223401.

Abstract

We report the realization of a Bose-Einstein condensate of europium atoms, which is a strongly dipolar species with unique properties, a highly symmetric [Xe]4f^{7}6s^{2} ^{8}S_{7/2} electronic ground state and a hyperfine structure. By means of evaporative cooling in a crossed optical dipole trap, we produce a condensate of ^{151}Eu containing up to 5×10^{4} atoms. We estimate the scattering length of ^{151}Eu to be a_{s}=110(4) a_{B} after comparing the velocities of expansion of condensates to different orientations of the atomic magnetic moments, where a_{B} is the Bohr radius. We observe deformation of the condensate in the vicinity of the Feshbach resonance at 1.32 G with a width of 10 mG.

MeSH terms

  • Cold Temperature*
  • Europium*
  • Optical Tweezers
  • Phase Transition
  • Vibration

Substances

  • Europium