Ultracold collisions of metasstable calcium atoms in an optical dipole trap

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We plan to explore the collision properties of ultracold, long-lived metastable calcium (40Ca) atoms confined in an optical dipole trap. We will study 3P2 samples with controlled occupation of the magnetic sub-levels at variable magnetic fields (0 – 200 Gauss) as well as non-magnetic 3P0 samples, which are of particular interest for atomic clock applications. We will explore a novel fully continuous loading scheme, which promises to yield large trap populations and high densities in the 3P0 dipole trap. The planned measurements of collision cross-sections permit a detailed comparison with ab initio calculations, and thus challenge state of the art quantum collision theory. We have agreed upon a collaboration with two leading theory groups for this task. Depending on our findings regarding the 3P0 collision properties, we will proceed to implement crossed dipole traps and evaporation cooling to extend the collision studies to lower temperatures and higher densities, and to explore the possibility of quantum degenerate 3P0 samples.