Space-adjustable dark magneto-optical trap for efficient production of heteronuclear molecules

We present a simple, robust, space-adjustable dark magneto-optical trap(MOT) for the efficient production of heteronuclear molecules. Double-mixed beams made up of repumping beams and depumping beams propagate in nearly opposite directions in the dark MOT. This optical arrangement can easily adjust the spatial positions of two clouds by changing the power ratio of the two repumping beams, and ensure a good overlap, which is very necessary for the production of heteronuclear molecules. The imaging of cold atoms by camera and the collisioninduced loss rate obtained by recording the loading curve of the cold atoms show that we obtain a perfect overlap of atom clouds. The number of Rb Cs molecules with the double-mixed beams is improved by 70%, which is higher than the one with the single-mixed beam.