Enhancement of Transfer Efficiency of Cold Atoms Using an Optical Guiding Laser Beam

We transfer cold ^87 Rb atoms from a vapour cell chamber to a spatially separated UHV magneto-optical trap （MOT） with the assistance of a red-detuned optical guiding beam and a normal push beam. Efficient optical guiding of the cold atoms is observed within a small detuning window. A pulsed optical guiding beam enhances the transfer efficiency and hence allows us to collect more atoms in UHV MOT in a shorter time, which is favourable for our experiment of achieving Bose-Einstein condensates （BEC）. Besides the easy operation, another advantage of this optical guiding technique is also demonstrated such that slower atomic beams may be efficiently transferred along horizontal direction. This study is a direct application of the optical guiding technique as a powerful tool.     

中性原子的激光导引及其应用

文章综述了采用中空光纤中红失谐高斯模式,红失谐高斯激光束,中空光纤中蓝失谐消逝波和蓝失谐暗中空光束实现中性原子激光导引的原理,方法和实验及其最新进展,并简单介绍了激光导引原子技术在原子光学领域中的应用。     

Continuous transfer and laser guiding between two cold atom traps

We have demonstrated and modeled a simple and efficient method to transfer atoms from a first Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) to a second one. Two independent setups, with cesium and rubidium atoms respectively, have shown that a high power and slightly diverging laser beam optimizes the transfer between the two traps when its frequency is red-detuned from the atomic transition. This pushing laser extracts a continuous beam of slow and cold atoms out of the first MOT and also provides a guiding to the second one through the dipolar force. In order to optimize the transfer efficiency, the dependence of the atomic flux on the pushing laser parameters (power, detuning, divergence and waist) is investigated. The atomic flux is found to be proportional to the first MOT loading rate. Experimentally, the transfer efficiency reaches 70%, corresponding to a transfer rate up to 2.7×10⁸ atoms/s with a final velocity of 5.5 m/s. We present a simple analysis of the atomic motion inside the pushing–guiding laser, in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Transverse heating due to nonadiabatic propagation of cold atoms in an atomic guide

We study propagation of cold atoms along a curved atomic guide following an arbitrary trajectory in space. Transverse energy of the atomic beam increases as the beam propagates along the guide. Our model explains results of recent experiments on optical and magnetic guiding of cold atoms.     

Reconfigurable atom chip on a transparent ferrite-garnet film

We introduce a new choice of material for the creation of microscopic magnetic potentials for the trapping and guiding of ultracold neutral atoms. The potentials are created above a ferrimagnetic, transparent (BiYTmGd)₃(FeGa)₅O₁₂ film by patterning the magnetic-domain structure in the film with a magneto-optical recording method. Patterns with linewidth down to 2 μm have been achieved, enabling trap frequencies of the order of 100 kHz for ⁸⁷Rb atoms in the state |F=1, m_F=-1〉. The main advantages of the material are: 1) magnetic-field noise is suppressed due to the dielectricity of the material and the absence of electric currents, 2) trapped atoms can be addressed optically through the transparent film, and 3) the film can be repatterned, which enables different experiments with the same component.     

Guiding Neutral Atoms with Two Current-Carrying Wires and a Vertical Bias Field on the Atom Chip

We demonstrate the guiding of neutral atoms with two parallel microfabricated current-carrying wires on the atom chip and a vertical magnetic bias field. The atoms are guided along a magnetic field minimum parallel to the current-carrying wires and confined in the other two directions. We describe in detail how the precooled atoms are efficiently loaded into the two-wire guide. We present a detailed experimental study of the motional properties of the atoms in the guide and the relationship between the location of the guide and the vertical bias field. This two-wire guide with vertical bias field can be used to realize large area atom interferometer.     

Interferometer-type structures for guided atoms

We experimentally demonstrate interferometer-type guiding structures for neutral atoms based on dipole potentials created by microfabricated optical systems. As a central element we use an array of atom waveguides being formed by focusing a red-detuned laser beam with an array of cylindrical microlenses. Combining two of these arrays, we realize X-shaped beam splitters and more complex systems like the geometries for Mach-Zehnder and Michelson-type interferometers for atoms.     

A dark hollow beam from a selectively liquid-filled photonic crystal fibre

This paper reports that, based on the electromagnetic scattering theory of the multipole method, a high-quality hollow beam is produced through a selectively liquid-filled photonic crystal fibre. Instead of a doughnut shape, a typical hollow beam is produced by other methods; the mode-field images of the hollow-beam photonic crystal fibre satisfy sixth-order rotation symmetry, according to the symmetry of the photonic crystal fibre (PCF) structure. A dark spot size of the liquid-filled photonic crystal fibre-generated hollow beam can be tuned by inserting liquid into the cladding region and varying the photonic crystal fibre structure parameters. The liquid-filled PCF makes a convenient and flexible tool for the guiding and trapping of atoms and the creation of all-fibre optical tweezers.     

New interpretations of measured antihydrogen velocities and field ionization spectra

We present extensive Monte Carlo simulations, showing that cold antihydrogen (H) atoms are produced when antiprotons (p) are gently heated in the side wells of a nested Penning trap. The observed H with high energies, that had seemed to indicate otherwise, are instead explained by a surprisingly effective charge-exchange mechanism. We shed light on the previously measured field-ionization spectrum, and reproduce both the characteristic low-field power law as well as the enhanced H production at higher fields. The latter feature is shown to arise from H toms too deeply bound to be described as guiding center atoms, atoms with internally chaotic motion.     

采用四根单模光纤束实现消逝波原子(或分子)波导的理论分析

提出了一种利用四根亚微米单模光纤束实现冷原子(或冷分子)波导的新方案，计算了四光纤束内空心区域的消逝波光场及其光学囚禁势.研究表明这种蓝失谐的空心消逝波光场同样可用于实现冷原子(或冷分子)的激光波导，而且与传统的中空光纤原子波导方案相比，不仅简单方便，造价低廉，而且更容易实现冷原子物质波的高效单模波导. 关键词： 单模光纤 消逝波 原子(或分子)波导     

Cold atom guidance by a holographically-generated Laguerre-Gaussian laser mode

We report on the quantitative study of guiding of cold rubidium atoms in a Laguerre-Gaussian laser mode LG₀ ^l, which is holographically prepared using a spatial light modulator. We have measured the guiding efficiency (up to 25%) and studied the variations versus l, the order of the mode and versus the laser detuning. We interpret the observed behavior by using a two-dimensional trap model and by calculating the capture efficiency of the initial atomic cloud by the dipole guide.     

Numerical simulations on the motion of atoms travelling through a standing-wave light field

The motion of metastable helium atoms travelling through a standing light wave is investigated with a semi-classical numerical model. The results of a calculation including the velocity dependence of the dipole force are compared with those of the commonly used approach, which assumes a conservative dipole force. The comparison is made for two atom guiding regimes that can be used for the production of nanostructure arrays; a low power regime, where the atoms are focused in a standing wave by the dipole force, and a higher power regime, in which the atoms channel along the potential minima of the light field. In the low power regime the differences between the two models are negligible and both models show that, for lithography purposes, pattern widths of 150 nm can be achieved. In the high power channelling regime the conservative force model, predicting 100 nm features, is shown to break down. The model that incorporates velocity dependence, resulting in a structure size of 40 nm, remains valid, as demonstrated by a comparison with quantum Monte-Carlo wavefunction calculations.Received: 11 December 2002, Published online: 29 July 2003PACS: 02.60.Cb Numerical simulation; solution of equations - 32.80.Lg Mechanical effects of light on atoms, molecules, and ions - 81.16.Rf Nanoscale pattern formationL. Feenstra: Present address: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 12, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.     

Magnetic guide of cold atoms using a U-shaped current-carrying conductor

We propose a new scheme to magnetically guide cold neutral atoms using a U-shaped current carrying conductor. The spatial magnetic field distribution from the U-shaped current-carrying conductor and the relationship between the magnetic field and parameters of the U-shaped conductor are analysed. Our study shows that U-shaped current-carrying conductor can be used to realize single- or double-channel magnetic guiding of cold atoms in weak-field-seeking states and to construct various atom-optical elements. By using Monte Carlo simulations, the dynamic process of the guided atomic-beam splitting in an atomic-beam splitter composed by the U-shaped current-carrying conductor is studied, and some results are presented.     

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.     

Study of Dark-Hollow Beams Generated with Different Multimode Fibres

A dark-hollow beam （DHB） is generated by a coupfing of a single fundamental mode He-Ne laser beam with a misalignment multimode fibre （MMF） in a special way. Effects of the misalignment angle, diameter and length of the MMF are studied. The generated DHBs can be used for guiding and trapping of atoms, manipulating particles, or as optical tweezers.     

Nanoscale guiding for cold atoms based on surface plasmons along the tips of metallic wedges

We propose a novel scheme to guide neutral cold atoms in a nanoscale region based on surface plasmons (SPs) of one pair and two pairs of tips of metallic wedges with locally enhanced light intensity and sub-optical wavelength resolution. We analyze the near-field intensity distribution of the tip of the metallic wedge by the FDTD method, and study the total intensity as well as the total potential of optical potentials and van der Waals potentials for 87 Rb atoms in the light field of one pair and two pairs of tips of metallic wedges. It shows that the total potentials of one pair and two pairs of tips of metallic wedges can generate a gravito-optical trap and a dark closed trap for nanoscale guiding of neutral cold atoms. Guided atoms can be cooled with efficient intensity-gradient Sisyphus cooling by blue-detuned light field. This provides an important step towards the generation of hybrid systems consisting of isolated atoms and solid devices.     

Propagation of Bose-Einstein condensates in a magnetic waveguide

Gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates of 2-3 x 10(6) 23Na atoms were loaded into a microfabricated magnetic trap using optical tweezers. Subsequently, the condensates were released into a magnetic waveguide and propagated 12 mm. Single-mode propagation was observed along homogeneous segments of the waveguide. Inhomogeneities in the guiding potential arose from geometric deformations of the microfabricated wires and caused strong transverse excitations. Such deformations may restrict the waveguide physics that can be explored with propagating condensates. Finer perturbations to the guiding potential fragmented the condensate when it was brought closer to the surface.     

Atom fiber for omnidirectional guiding of cold neutral atoms

We present an omnidirectional matter waveguide on an atom chip. The guide is based on a combination of two current-carrying wires and a bias field pointing perpendicular to the chip surface. Thermal atoms are guided for more than two complete turns along a 25-mm-long spiral path (with curve radii as short as 200 microm) at various atom-surface distances (35-450 microm). An extension of the scheme for the guiding of Bose-Einstein condensates is outlined.     

Pulsed polarization gradient cooling in an optical dipole trap with a Laguerre-Gaussian laser beam

We utilized a blue-detuned Laguerre-Gaussian (doughnut) laser beam to trap cold rubidium atoms by optical dipole force. ”Pulsed” polarization gradient cooling was applied to the trapped atoms to suppress the trap loss due to heating caused by random photon scattering of the trapping light. In this trap about 10⁸ atoms were initially captured and the trap lifetime was 1.5 s, which was consistent with losses due to background gas collisions. This trap can readily be applied to atom guiding, compression, and evaporative cooling. Received: 10 July 1997 / Received in final form: 5 January 1998 / Accepted: 16 January 1998     

SHA+脉冲序列用于g-C3N4样品15N-15N相关性的固体核磁共振研究

利用固体核磁共振实验研究了15N标记的g-C3N4样品中的15N-15N空间相关性,在高场和魔角旋转条件下对比两种不同的脉冲序列PDSD和SHA+的实验效果。发现当某个氮上连有质子的时候,脉冲序列SHA+比PDSD可以更好地检测15N原子间的极化转移。该研究可以为材料科学领域,特别是含氮掺杂的碳材料,提供一种有价值的研究方法。