From atoms to molecules in a mixture of paramagnetic and diamagnetic quantum gases

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The proposed project is concerned with the realization of a two-component quantum gas and the subsequent production of heteronuclear molecules. The unique feature of our approach is the combination of paramagnetic rubidium (Rb) with diamagnetic ytterbium (Yb), which will allow for practically independent trapping and manipulation of the two species. The project is already at a stage, where Bose-Einstein condensates with 87Rb can be routinely produced and all seven stable isotopes of Yb can be magneto-optically trapped. The scientific milestones for the funding period are the study of elastic interactions, the realization of a mixed quantum gas, trapping of the mixture in an optical lattice and heteronuclear molecule production using photoassociation. We will also investigate superfluidity and miscibility in the novel quantum mixture of Rb and Yb. Our main goal is the production of ultracold heteronuclear molecules in the electronic ground state in an optical lattice. Here we want to exploit the fact that in the Mott-insulating phase detrimental inelastic collisions can be suppressed. The ultimate challenge will be to find a strategy for transfer of the molecules into the vibrational ground state. Ultracold heteronuclear molecules are ideally suited to study dipolar effects in quantum gases. Additionally, a heteronuclear molecule using Yb is a good candidate for the search for an elementary permanent electric dipole moment.