| We have set up an experiment aiming at the creation of a two-species quantum gas with ytterbium (Yb) and rubidium (Rb) atoms. The combination of a rare earth (Yb) with a diamagnetic ground state and a paramagnetic alkali metal (Rb) will enable us to manipulate the two species independently. In this ultracold mixture, interspecies interactions and the possibility for the formation of heteronuclear molecules will be investigated. While a 87Rb BEC is created by evaporative cooling in a magnetic trap, Yb in the electronic ground state will be trapped in a bichromatic optical dipole trap (ODT). The ODT is designed as to minimize the effect of the trapping light on the Rb atoms and is spatially overlapping the magnetic trap. Cooling of Yb will be achieved by sympathetic cooling through thermalization with Rb. We have already realized a BEC 87Rb with around 106 atoms and have trapped Yb in the bichromatic optical trap. Currently, we are working on combining the two atomic species in their respective traps. We will report on the status of the experiment. |
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