RESUMO
We report on the Bose-Einstein condensation of potassium atoms, whereby quantum degeneracy is achieved by sympathetic cooling with evaporatively cooled rubidium. Because of the rapid thermalization of the two different atoms, the efficiency of the cooling process is high. The ability to achieve condensation by sympathetic cooling with a different species may provide a route to the production of degenerate systems with a larger choice of components.
RESUMO
An experimental demonstration of a noninvasive optical probe of magnetic fields is presented. The technique used is magnetic rotation spectroscopy of the b(1)?(g)(+) - X(3)?(g)(-) band of oxygen near 760 nm. Ambient concentrations of oxygen at atmospheric pressure are sufficient to observe substantial signals. In addition, a diode laser is used as the light source, making this a simple and compact measurement possibility.
