Combining Yb and Li: Rapid Quantum Degenerate Gas Production and Interacting Mixtures

We detail a readily adaptable method for optimizing evaporative cooling efficiency in optical dipole traps (ODTs), reducing the production time of quantum degenerate gases. Utilizing the time-averaged 'painting' potential of a rapidly moving laser beam, we dynamically shape the trap over the course of evaporation to produce $^{174}$Yb Bose-Einstein condensates of (0.5-1.0) $\times$ 10$^5$ atoms in (1.6-1.8) seconds.\footnote{R. Roy, A. Green, R. Bowler, and S.Gupta. \textit{Rapid cooling to quantum degeneracy in dynamically shaped atom traps.} arXiv:1601.05103} We also report on interaction studies in the quantum degenerate Bose-Fermi $^{174}$Yb-$^6$Li mixture in the BEC-BCS crossover. Additionally, we present work on photoassociation spectroscopy on $^6$Li-Yb mixtures and the production of YbLi* molecules in a dual magneto-optical trap, a first step toward coherent production of ultracold $^{2}\Sigma$ molecules.