Bose--Einstein condensation on an atom chip

This paper reports an experiment of creating Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) on an atom chip. The chip-based Z-wire current with a homogeneous bias magnetic field creates a tight magnetic trap, which allows for a fast production of BEC. After a 4.17-s forced radio frequency evaporative cooling, a condensate with about 3000 atoms appears. The transition temperature is about 300~nK. This compact system is quite robust, allowing for versatile extensions and further studying of BEC.     

Dynamic splitting and merging of an atom cloud on an atom chip

Chip-based atom interferometers bring together the advantages of atom chips and Bose--Einstein condensates. Their central prerequisite is that a condensate can be coherently split into two halves with a determined relative phase. This paper demonstrates the dynamical splitting and merging of an atom cloud with two U-wires on an atom chip. Symmetrical and asymmetrical splittings are realized by applying a bias field with dif\/ferent directions and magnitudes. The trajectories of the splitting are consistent with theoretical calculations. The atom chip is a good candidate for constructing an atom interferometer.     

Demonstration of a cold atom beam splitter on atom chip

We report an experimental demonstration of a new scheme to split cold atoms on an atom chip. The atom chip consists of a U-wire and a Z-wire. The cold atom cloud is initially loaded and prepared in the Z-trap, which is split into two separate parts by switching on the current of the U-wire. The two separate atom clouds have a distance more than one millimeter apart from each other and show almost symmetrical profiles, corresponding to about a 50/50 splitting ratio.     

Enhanced cooling of a V-type three-level atom in an optical cavity

We have studied theoretically and numerically the enhanced cooling of a V-type three-level atom in a high-finesse optical cavity and shown that the cooling rate can be increased by one order of magnitude over that of a two-level atom, and the momentum amplitude tends to a stationary state much smaller than that of a two-level atom. We have further shown that the cooling rate can be significantly improved by using feedback and a time-dependent pump.     

Surface-induced evaporative cooling

The effects of surface-induced evaporative cooling on an atom chip are investigated. The evolutions of temperature, number and phase-space density of the atom cloud are measured when the atom cloud is brought close to the surface. Rapid decrease of the temperature and number of the atoms is found when the atom-surface distance is < 100~μm. A gain of about a factor of five on the phase-space density is obtained. It is found that the efficiency of the surface-induced evaporative cooling depends on the atom-surface distance and the shape of the evaporative trap. When the atoms are moved very close to the surface, severe heating is observed, which dominates when the holding time is >8~ms. It is important that the surface-induced evaporative cooling offers novel possibilities for the realization of a continuous condensation, where a spatially varying evaporative cooling is required.     

利用原子芯片上Z形磁阱囚禁中性87Rb原子

利用解析和数值方法计算了Z形磁阱的囚禁势，发现当囚禁中心和芯片表面距离较远时(该距离和Z形线中部导线的一半长度相差不超过一个量级)，势阱的深度不能近似表示成偏置磁场B_y对应的能量，而要减去囚禁中心的势能高度；而增加B_y进行磁阱压缩到一定值时，势阱深度反而会下降.此外介绍了原子芯片的制作方法，以及利用原子芯片上Z形磁阱囚禁中性⁸⁷Rb原子的实验装置和实验过程.最终有2×10⁶个⁸⁷Rb原子被转移到Z形磁阱中.     

Frequency stabilised grating feedback laser diode for atom cooling applications

The free running linewidth of an external cavity grating feedback diode laser is on the order of a few megahertz and is limited by the mechanical and acoustic vibrations of the external cavity. Such frequency fluctuations can be removed by electronic feedback. We present a hybrid stabilisation technique that uses both a Fabry–Perot confocal cavity and an atomic resonance to achieve excellent short and long term frequency stability. The system has been shown to reduce the laser linewidth of an external cavity diode laser by an order of magnitude to 140 kHz, while limiting frequency excursions to 60 kHz relative to an absolute reference over periods of several hours. The scheme also presents a simple way to frequency offset two lasers many gigahertz apart which should find a use in atom cooling experiments, where hyperfine ground-state frequency separations are often required.     

Single layer atom chip for magnetically trapping one-dimensional array of ultracold atoms

<正>We propose a wire configuration to create a one-dimensional(1D) array of magnetic microtraps for trapping ultracold atoms.The configuration is formed by replacing the central part of the Z-wire pattern with a zigzag wire. We simulate the performance of this pattern by the finite element method which can take both the width and depth of the wire into consideration.The result of simulation shows that this configuration can create magnetic microtraps which can be separated and combined by changing the bias magnetic field.We manage to split the Z-wire trap and prove that a similar result can occur for the new wire configuration.The fabrication processes of the atom chip are also introduced.Finally we discuss the loading method.     

微重力环境下冷原子物理及其应用

文章介绍了国际上微重力环境下冷原子物理及其应用的研究工作：空间原子钟、原子干涉仪、超冷原子物理和建议中的广义相对论的探索.文中简要介绍了中国科学院上海光学精密机械研究所在微重力环境下所进行的空间原子钟、玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚和原子芯片等研究工作.     

激光冷却获得高亮度的亚稳态惰性气体原子束和原子阱

高强度的亚稳态惰性原子束流在原子分子物理实验研究中具有广泛的应用.使用射频电离方法和激光横向冷却技术制备了高强度的亚稳态氪原子束流,并使用数值模拟方法对横向冷却激光场中的原子径迹进行了分析.通过激光诱导荧光光谱方法测量原子束的束流特性,结果显示,横向冷却后在束流源下游230 cm处的原子束流强度达1.6atoms/(s*sr),束流强度提高了两个量级.利用这种高强度原子束流,我们成功囚禁了1.3×10¹⁰个亚稳态⁸⁴Kr原子,同时冷原子装载速率达到了3.0×10¹¹atoms/s;并利用该装置成功地实现了高亮度的亚稳态氩原子束和原子阱. 关键词： 横向冷却 原子束 原子阱 惰性气体     

Production and guidance of pulsed atomic beams on chip

We demonstrated two experimental methods of producing and guiding pulsed atomic beams on chip. One is to trap atoms first in a U-type magneto-optical trap on the chip, then transfer them to the magnetic guide field and push them simultaneously by a continuous force from the power imbalance of the magneto-optical trap laser beams hence the pulsed cold atom beams are produced and move along the magnetic guide to the destination. The other is to trap atoms directly by a H-type magneto-optical trap, then push them to make them move along the magnetic guide field, thus high rate cold atom beams can be produced and guided on the chip.     

Radiation pressure and laser cooling of a three-level atom in a ladder configuration

Radiation pressure and laser cooling of a moving three-level ladder-type atom in bichromatic travelling fields are considered. The dependence of the force on parameters such as detunings, Rabi frequencies and spontaneous decay rates is calculated numerically and shown graphically, and analytical expressions for the force are obtained for some special parameter values. It is shown that the radiation pressure shows Doppler-shifted resonance peaks resulting respectively from one-photon and two-photon transitions. Using the present scheme, Doppler cooling of sodium exploiting the 3{}^2S_{1/2}－3{}^2P_{3/2}－3{}^2D_{5/2} cascade transitions is investigated. It is found that temperatures lower than the Doppler limit can be achieved.     

集成原子光学:原子芯片

原子光学是当前研究得比较热的学科，由于原子激光冷却技术和纳米技术的成熟，原子光学朝着微型化和集成化的方向发展．文章主要介绍了当前集成原子光学的一个焦点——原子芯片及其最新实验进展：包括不同形式的原子导引方式，当前原子芯片的实验工作，原子芯片在玻色—爱因斯坦凝聚(BEC)研究中的应用，以及原子芯片在其他方面的应用前景．     

数字信号在原子芯片中的应用

通过分析和计算不同谐波分量与原子相互作用产生不同的势场,发现可以将其叠加在一起形成原子囚禁势,提出了数字信号在原子芯片中的应用方案. 关键词： 原子芯片 数字信号 绝热势     

单原子冷却及光学操控的实验进展

文章综述了基于原子冷却与俘获的单原子制备及其光学操控的基本实验原理及实验进展,并介绍了单原子制备及光学操控在量子寄存器、单光子源、原子－光子纠缠等方面的应用,简述了文章作者所在研究小组在单原子制备和光学操控方面的实验进展.     

单原子冷却及光学操控的实验进展

文章综述了基于原子冷却与俘获的单原子制备及其光学操控的基本实验原理及实验进展,并介绍了单原子制备及光学操控在量子寄存器、单光子源、原子-光子纠缠等方面的应用,简述了文章作者所在研究小组在单原子制备和光学操控方面的实验进展.     

Increasing the cold atom density in an integrating spherical cavity

A novel method of angled incidence for diffuse laser cooling of ⁸⁷Rb is presented to improve the distribution of cold atom density in an integrating sphere. The angled injection scheme could cool more atoms in the middle of the sphere compared to the previous normal injection scheme. The loading time of the cold atoms for the angled injection scheme is twice as that of the normal injection scheme. The SNR and the contrast of the detected signal would be improved in the angled injection scheme.     

Laser frequency stabilization and large detuning by Doppler-free dichroic lock technique: Application to atom cooling

We present results of a study of frequency stabilization of a diode laser (λ = 780 nm) using the Doppler-free dichroic lock (DFDL) technique and its use for laser cooling of atoms. Quantitative measurements of frequency stability were performed and the Allan variance was found to be 6.9 × 10¹¹ for an averaging time of 10 s. The frequency-stabilized diode laser was used to obtain the trapping beams for a magneto-optic trap (MOT) for Rb atoms. Using the DFDL technique, the laser frequency could be locked over a wide range and this enabled measurement of detuning dependence of the number and temperature of cold atoms using a relatively simple experimental set-up.     

亚微米局域空心光束的产生及其在单原子囚禁与冷却中的应用理论研究

提出了一种采用单模光纤、环形二元相位板和微透镜组成的光束整形系统产生亚微米局域空心光束的方案. 根据瑞利-索莫菲衍射积分公式, 数值计算了微透镜焦平面附近的场分布, 详细研究了空心光束的暗斑尺寸与单模光纤模场半径和微透镜焦距的关系. 数值计算结果表明: 在微透镜焦平面附近光场分布近似对称, 在焦点处场强近似为零, 周围场强逐渐增大, 形成半径约为0.4 μm的三维封闭的球形空心光场区域, 即亚微米局域空心光束. 当局域空心光束为蓝失谐时, 光场中的原子将被囚禁在光场最弱处. 若加上抽运光, 原子将受到蓝失谐局域空心光束与抽运光共同激发的强度梯度Sisyphus冷却. 本文利用该方案产生的亚微米局域空心光束构建单原子的囚禁与冷却器件, 并以单个⁸⁷Rb原子为例, 利用Mont-Carlo方法研究亚微米局域空心光束中单原子囚禁与强度梯度冷却的动力学过程, 结果表明利用该器件可以获得温度在5.8 μK量级的超冷单原子.     

Direct observation of Cu interphase precipitation in continuous cooling transformation by atom probe tomography

Atom probe tomography (APT) combined with electron back scatter diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) is utilized to characterize the nature of copper precipitation during austenite–ferrite transformation in a continuous cooling high-strength low-alloy steel. The copper precipitation manners in association with the austenite decomposition kinetics are studied. The prevailing microstructure of the continuous cooling steel consists of acicular ferrite (AF), which is formed at an intermediate cooling rate of 10?°C/s. Besides, a limited volume of polygonal ferrite (PF) because of fast cooling rate and a trace of retained austenite are detected. Numerous copper-rich phase is found by TEM observation both in highly dislocated AF and dislocation-free PF. Generally, the copper-rich precipitates have comparatively large sizes and are considered to be formed by interphase precipitation during austenite–ferrite transformation. A high number density of nanometre sized copper-rich clusters that are lack of diffraction contrast in conventional TEM observation are detected by APT. These smaller copper-rich clusters, which are usually located between the linear-arranged copper-rich precipitates, are considered to be formed from supersaturated solid solution after the cessation of austenite–ferrite transformation. That means an ageing reaction for Cu precipitation occurs during continuous cooling transformation. The copper-rich precipitates and clusters are both rich in nickel, manganese and iron.