Magneto-optical trapping of holmium atoms

We demonstrate sub-Doppler laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping of the rare earth element Holmium. Atoms are loaded from an atomic beam source and captured in six-beam $\sigma_+ - \sigma_-$ molasses using a strong $J=15/2 \leftrightarrow J=17/2$ cycling transition at $\lambda=410.5 \rm nm$. Du... View More