Simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of three atomic species

We report on the simultaneous trapping of two fermionic species, Li-6 and K-40, and a bosonic species, Rb-87, demonstrating the first three-species magneto-optical trap (triple MOT). The apparatus including the atom sources and the three laser systems is described, and the single-species MOTs and the triple MOT are characterized. In triple MOT operation, typical atom numbers of 3.2x10(7) for Li-6, 1.5x10(7) for K-40, and 5.4x10(9) for Rb-87 were achieved. Trap loss due to interspecies collisions was observed. We describe our way to optimize the triple MOT and turn it into a suitable source for the goal to achieve quantum degeneracy by evaporative and sympathetic cooling.