Simultaneous trapping of two different atomic species in a vapor cell MOT

Summary form only given. All the experiments and theories describing atomic traps and cold collisions have considered only homonuclear systems. Cold collisions involving different atomic species open up new and exciting possibilities, including high-resolution studies of heteronuclear molecular band formation. We have carried out an experiment on the simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of two alkali atoms: Na and K. Collisional rate constant of trap loss resulting from cross atomic collisions was investigated through the transient loading of the trap.