Estimating Bounds on Collisional Relaxation Rates of Spin-Polarized 87Rb Atoms at Ultracold Temperatures

We present quantum scattering calculations for the collisional relaxation rate coefficient of spin-polarized ⁸⁷Rb(f = 2,m = 2) atoms, which determines the loss rate of cold Rb atoms from a magnetic trap. Unlike the lighter alkali atoms, spin-polarized ⁸⁷Rb atoms can undergo dipolar relaxation due to both the normal spin-spin dipole interaction and a second-order spin-orbit interaction with distant electronic states of the dimer. We present ab initio calculations for the second-order spin-orbit terms for both Rb₂ and Cs₂. The corrections lead to a reduction in the relaxation rate for ⁸⁷Rb. Our primary concern is to analyze the sensitivity of the ⁸⁷Rb trap loss to the uncertainties in the ground state molecular potentials. Since the scattering length for the a³Σ⁺_u state is already known, the major uncertainties are associated with the X¹Σ⁺_g potential. After testing the effect of systematically modifying the short-range form of the molecular potentials over a reasonable range, and introducing our best estimate of the second-order spin-orbit interaction, we estimate that in the low temperature limit the rate coefficient for loss of Rb atoms from the f = 2,m = 2 state is between 0.4 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm³/s and 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm³/s (where this number counts two atoms lost per collision). In a pure condensate the rate coefficient would be reduced by 1/2.     

Vortices in a stirred Bose-Einstein condensate

Abstract

We stir with a focused laser beam a Bose-Einstein condensate of ⁸⁷Rb atoms confined in a magnetic trap. We observe the formation of a single vortex for a stirring frequency exceeding a critical value. At larger rotation frequencies we produce states of the condensate for which up to eleven vortices are simultaneously present. We present measurements of the decay of a vortex array once the stirring laser beam is removed.     

Thermally Induced Losses in Ultra-Cold Atoms Magnetically Trapped Near Room-Temperature Surfaces

We have measured magnetic trap lifetimes of ultra-cold ⁸⁷Rb atoms at distances of 5–1000 µm from surfaces of conducting metals with varying resistivity. Good agreement is found with a theoretical model for losses arising from near-field magnetic thermal noise, confirming the complications associated with holding trapped atoms close to conducting surfaces. A dielectric surface (silicon) was found in contrast to be so benign that we are able to evaporatively cool atoms to a Bose–Einstein condensate by using the surface to selectively adsorb higher energy atoms.     

A two species trap for chromium and rubidium atoms

Abstract

We realize a combined trap for bosonic chromium (⁵²Cr) and rubidium (⁸⁷Rb) atoms. Initial experiments focus on exploring a suitable loading scheme for the combined trap and on studies of new trap loss mechanisms originating from simultaneous trapping of two species. By comparing the trap loss from the ⁸⁷Rb magneto-optical trap (MOT) in the absence and presence of magnetically trapped ground state ⁵²Cr atoms we determine the scattering cross-section of σ _inel,RbCr = 5.0 ± 4.0 × 10^?18 m² for light-induced inelastic collisions between the two species. Studying the trap loss from the Rb magneto-optical trap induced by the Cr cooling-laser light, the photoionization cross-section of the excited 5P_3/1 state at an ionizing wavelength of 426 nm is measured to be σ _P = 1.1 ± 0.3 × 10^?21 m².     

Quantum non-demolition measurements using cold atoms in an optical cavity

Abstract

In this paper we present a theoretical analysis of a recent quantum non-demolition experiment in optics using cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap as a nonlinear medium. A signal beam and a meter beam from two independent lasers are coupled within a A-type three-level scheme in the D1 line of ⁸⁷Rb atoms. The experimental results for the relevant quantum correlations of the fields represent up to now the best achievement for a single back-action evading measurement. Moreover, they are found to be in remarkably good agreement with the theoretical predictions from a fully quantum model for three-level atoms in a doubly resonant cavity.     

Magnetism in ultracold quantum gases

Abstract

We study the static and dynamic magnetic properties of ultracold quantum gases, in particular the spinor physics of F = 1 and F = 2 Bose-Einstein condensates of ⁸⁷Rb atoms. Our data lead to the conclusion, that the F = 2 ground state of ⁸⁷Rb is polar, while we find the F = 1 ground state to be ferromagnetic. The dynamics of spinor systems is linked to an interplay between coherent mean-field interactions, losses and interactions with atoms in the thermal cloud. Within this rich parameter space we observe indications for coherent spinor dynamics and novel thermalization regimes.     

Realization of a mirror magneto-optical trap

Abstract

We present details for construction and the operation of a mirror magneto-optical trap for cooling and trapping rubidium atoms. For trap operation, only four input laser beams are needed in contrast to the normal six for a standard trap. In excess of 10⁸ atoms have been trapped with this arrangement, with the atomic ensemble only ～1mm from the surface of a reflective mirror. This trap is highly suited to studies of magnetic guiding and magnetic manipulation of cold atomic ensembles.     

Aspect Ratio Analysis for Ground States of Bosons in Anisotropic Traps

Characteristics of the initial condensate in the recent experiment on Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of ⁸⁷Rb atoms in an anisotropic magnetic trap are discussed. Given the aspect ratio R, the quality of BEC is estimated. A simple analytical ansatz for the initial condensate wave function is proposed as a function of the aspect ratio which, in contrast to the Baym-Pethick trial wave function, can be used for any interaction strength, reproduces both the weak and the strong interaction limits, and which is in better agreement with numerical results than the latter.     

Simplified System for Creating a Bose–Einstein Condensate

We designed and constructed a simplified experimental system to create a Bose–Einstein condensate in ⁸⁷Rb. Our system has several novel features including a mechanical atom transfer mechanism and a hybrid Ioffe–Pritchard magnetic trap. The apparatus has been designed to consistently produce a stable condensate even when it is not well optimized.     

Finite-temperature Effect in Phase Transition to Superfluidity for Bose–Einstein Condensates in a 1-D Optical Lattice

We experimentally study the phase transition of ⁸⁷Rb Bose–Einstein condensates adiabatically loaded to a combined trap of a 1D optical lattice and a magnetic trap. The phase coherence property of this system is probed by recording the interference pattern of the expanded atomic cloud suddenly released from the combined trap. We show that as the temperature is sufficiently low (below the critical temperature T _C ), an interference pattern has a “peak on a peak” feature which is a true signature of macroscopic superfluid states. The normal gas only contributes to the broad background and three wide peaks in an interference pattern. These observations qualitatively agree with the recent theoretical predictions (Diener et al. in Phys. Rev. Lett. 98:180404, 2007; Kato et al. in Nat. Phys. 4:617, 2008). We also computed both the critical temperature and the interference pattern for a practical combined trap as ours in the tight-binding limit, and the numerical results are consistent with our experimental observations.     

Magnetic behavior of arrays of nickel nanowires: Effect of microstructure and aspect ratio

Arrays of nickel nanowires with aspect ratio of ∼1200 and diameters ranging between 25 and 100 nm have been fabricated by electrodeposition in etched ion track templates. Samples with different areal densities ranging from 1 × 10⁶ cm⁻² to 1 × 10⁸ cm⁻² have been prepared for this study. Magnetic measurements were performed at room temperature for different aspect ratios and diameters of the wires. Coercivity of the wires showed a strong dependence on aspect ratio (l/d), diameter and microstructure. In the case of parallel applied field coercivity of the wires has maximum value at ∼40 nm diameter. The wires with high areal densities showed relatively lower coercivities as compared to the low density samples. The results have been discussed by taking into account various magnetic anisotropies originating from the shape and crystalline nature of the wires, and the magnetostatic interactions among the wires.     

Trapping Electrons in Electrostatic Traps over the Surface of 4He

We have observed trapping of electrons in an electrostatic trap formed over the surface of liquid ⁴He. These electrons are detected by a Single Electron Transistor located at the center of the trap. We can trap any desired number of electrons between 1 and ∼30. By repeatedly (∼10³–10⁴ times) putting a single electron into the trap and lowering the electrostatic barrier of the trap, we can measure the effective temperature of the electron and the time of its thermalisation after heating up by incoherent radiation. E. Rousseau’s present address: Ecole Centrale, Paris, France. D. Ponarine’s present address: Chemistry Dept., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.     

Toroidal solitons in magnetic oxides,Bose-Einstein condensates,and other media

We consider toroidal soliton solutions in a number of nonlinear models of field theory (Skyrme, Faddeev, and Higgs models). Such models are used in various areas of solid-state chemistry and physics, chemical physics, astrophysics, and plasma chemistry and physics. The stability of toroidal solitons is shown to have a topological nature. We examine different methods of generating a nonlinear contribution to the Lagrangian in order to insure stability of the torus to collapse. Using the Faddeev and Skyrme models, we analyze the toroidal ordering in Bose-Einstein condensates of ²³Na, ³⁹K, and ⁸⁷Rb alkali-metal atoms, the toroidal structures recently found in the magnetic oxides BiFeO₃ and GaFeO₃, and potential applications of such structures in spintronics. In addition, we address several critical issues in the chemistry and physics of solitons with high topological charges.     

Making cold molecules by time-dependent feshbach resonances

Abstract

Pairs of trapped atoms can be associated to make a diatomic molecule using a time-dependent magnetic field to ramp the energy of a scattering resonance state from above to below the scattering threshold. A relatively simple model, parametrized in terms of the background scattering length and resonance width and magnetic moment, can be used to predict conversion probabilities from atoms to molecules. The model and its Landau-Zener interpretation are described and illustrated by specific calculations for ²³Na, ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs resonances. The model can be readily adapted to Bose-Einstein condensates. Comparison with full many-body calculations for the condensate case shows that the model is very useful for making simple estimates of molecule conversion efficiencies.     

Observations of absorptive photon switching and suppression of two-photon absorption in cold atoms

Atomic coherence and interference in an atomic medium exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency may lead to enhancement or suppression of nonlinear susceptibilities. Absorptive photon switching has been observed by constructive quantum interference, which is based on the enhanced third-order, nonlinear absorption in a four-level system. In a different four-level system, suppression of the two-photon absorption by destructive quantum interference has been observed. Experiments were carried out on ⁸⁷Rb atoms cooled and confined in a magneto-optical trap and the experimental results agree with theoretical calculations of simple four-level model systems.     

Bose-Einstein condensates in 'giant' toroidal magnetic traps

The experimental realization of gaseous Bose—Einstein condensation (BEC) in 1995 sparked considerable interest in this intriguing quantum fluid. Here, progress towards the development of an ⁸⁷Rb BEC experiment in a large (≈ 10cm diameter) toroidal storage ring is reported. A BEC will be formed at a localized region within the toroidal magnetic trap, from whence it can be launched around the torus. The benefits of the system are manifold, as it should readily enable detailed investigations of persistent currents, Josephson effects, phase fluctuations and high-precision Sagnac or gravitational interferometry.     

A Nonextensive Approach to Bose-Einstein Condensation of Trapped Interacting Boson Gas

In the Bose-Einstein condensation of interacting atoms or molecules such as ⁸⁷Rb, ²³Na and ⁷Li, the theoretical understanding of the transition temperature is not always obvious due to the interactions or zero point energy which cannot be exactly taken into account. The S-wave collision model fails sometimes to account for the condensation temperatures. In this work, we look at the problem within the nonextensive statistics which is considered as a possible theory describing interacting systems. The generalized energy U _q and the particle number N _q of boson gas are given in terms of the nonextensive parameter q. q>1 (q<1) implies repulsive (attractive) interaction with respect to the perfect gas. The generalized condensation temperature T _cq is derived versus T _c given by the perfect gas theory. Thanks to the observed condensation temperatures, we find q≈0.1 for ⁸⁷Rb atomic gas, q≈0.95 for ⁷Li and q≈0.62 for ²³Na. It is concluded that the effective interactions are essentially attractive for the three considered atoms, which is consistent with the observed temperatures higher than those predicted by the conventional theory.      

Preliminary results of the trapped atom clock on a chip

We present an atomic clock based on the interrogation of magnetically trapped ⁸⁷Rb atoms. Two photons, in the microwave and radiofrequency domain, excite the clock transition. At a magnetic field of 3.23 G the clock transition from |F = 1, m_F = -1? to |F = 2, m_F = 1? is 1st-order insensitive to magnetic field variations. Ramsey interrogation times longer than 2 s can be achieved, leading to a projected clock stability in the low 10^-13 at 1 s for a cloud of 10⁵ atoms. We use an atom chip to cool and trap the atoms. A coplanar waveguide is integrated to the chip to carry the Ramsey interrogation signal, making the physics package as small as (5 cm)³. We describe the experimental setup and show preliminary Ramsey fringes of line width 1.25 Hz.     

On the Measurement of the Neutron Lifetime Using Ultracold Neutrons in a Vacuum Quadrupole Trap

We present a conceptual design for an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime (~886 s) with an accuracy of 10⁻⁴. The lifetime will be measured by observing the decay rate of a sample of ultracold neutrons (UCN) confined in vacuum in a magnetic trap. The UCN collaboration at Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a prototype UCN source that is expected to produce a bottled UCN density of more than 100/cm³ [1]. The availability of such an intense source makes it possible to approach the measurement of the neutron lifetime in a new way. We argue below that it is possible to measure the neutron lifetime to 10⁻⁴ in a vacuum magnetic trap. The measurement involves no new technology beyond the expected UCN density. If even higher densities are available, the experiment can be made better and/or less expensive. We present the design and methodology for the measurement. The slow loss of neutrons that have stable orbits, but are not energetically trapped would produce a systematic uncertainty in the measurement. We discuss a new approach, chaotic cleaning, to the elimination of quasi-neutrons from the trap by breaking the rotational symmetry of the quadrupole trap. The neutron orbits take on a chaotic character and mode mixing causes the neutrons on the quasi-bound orbits to leave the trap.