Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0910.2332 · New Journal of Physics

Trapping of ultra-cold atoms with the magnetic field of vortices in a thin-film superconducting micro-structure

T Müller, B Zhang, R Fermani, K S Chan, Z W Wang, C B Zhang, M J Lim, Rainer Dumke

Published Apr 13, 2010• 44 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We store and control ultra-cold atoms in a new type of trap using the magnetic fields of vortices in a high-temperature superconducting micro-structure. We generate the attractive trapping potential for the atoms by combining the magnetic field of a superconductor in the remanent state with external homogeneous magnetic fields. We show the control of crucial atom trap characteristics such as an efficient intrinsic loading mechanism, spatial positioning of the trapped atoms and the vortex density in the superconductor. The measured trap characteristics are in good agreement with our numerical simulations.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/12/4/043016

Related papers

Superconducting atom chips

M. Siercke, K. S. Chan, B. Zhang +2 more

We investigate superconducting chip structures for trapping and manipulating atoms. These structures are based on the average magnetic field of vortices induced in a type-II superconducting thin film. This magnetic field is the critical ingredient of the demonstrated vortex-based atom trap, which operate without transport current. We employ the hysteretic behavior of a superconducting thin film in the remanent state to generate different traps and flexible magnetic potentials for ultra-cold atoms. The experimental realization can be described by the Bean's critical-state method to model the vortex field through mesoscopic super currents induced in the thin strip. Various vortex patterns can be obtained by programming different loading-field and transport current sequences. Furthermore we will discuss the expected enhanced lifetime of atoms trapped close to a superconducting surface in comparison with a metallic surface.

•Aug 1, 2011•2 citations

Superconducting Atom Chips

M. Siercke, K. S. Chan, B. Zhang +2 more

We investigate superconducting chip structures for trapping and manipulating atoms. These structures are based on the average magnetic field of vortices induced in a type-II superconducting thin film. This magnetic field is the critical ingredient of the demonstrated vortex-based atom trap, which operate without transport current. We employ the hysteretic behavior of a superconducting thin film in the remanent state to generate different traps and flexible magnetic potentials for ultra-cold atoms. The experimental realization can be described by the Bean’s critical-state method to model the vortex field through mesoscopic super currents induced in the thin strip. Various vortex patterns can be obtained by programming different loading-field and transport current sequences. Furthermore we will discuss the expected enhanced lifetime of atoms trapped close to a superconducting surface in comparison with a metallic surface.

•Jan 1, 2011•0 citations

Design of magnetic traps for neutral atoms with vortices in type-II superconducting microstructures

B. Zhang, R. Fermani, T. Müller +2 more

We design magnetic traps for atoms based on the average magnetic field of vortices induced in a type-II superconducting thin film. This magnetic field is the critical ingredient of the demonstrated vortex-based atom traps, which operate without transport current. We use Bean's critical-state method to model the vortex field through mesoscopic supercurrents induced in the thin strip. The resulting inhomogeneous magnetic fields are studied in detail and compared to those generated by multiple normally conducting wires with transport currents. Various vortex patterns can be obtained by programing different loading-field and transport-current sequences. These variable magnetic fields are employed to make versatile trapping potentials.

arXiv:1004.0064•Physical Review A•Jun 8, 2010•15 citations

Programmable trap geometries with superconducting atom chips

T. Müller, B. Zhang, R. Fermani +3 more

We employ the hysteretic behavior of a superconducting thin film in the remanent state to generate different traps and flexible magnetic potentials for ultracold atoms. The trap geometry can be programed by externally applied fields. This approach for atom optics is demonstrated by three different trap types realized on a single microstructure: a Z-type trap, a double trap, and a bias-field-free trap. Our studies show that superconductors in the remanent state provide a versatile platform for atom optics and applications in ultracold quantum gases.

arXiv:1003.5417•Physical Review A•May 24, 2010•27 citations

Microtraps for neutral atoms using superconducting structures in the critical state

Andreas Emmert, Adrian Lupaşcu, M. Brune +3 more

Recently demonstrated superconducting atom chips provide a platform for trapping atoms and coupling them to solid-state quantum systems. Controlling these devices requires a full understanding of the supercurrent distribution in the trapping structures. For type-II superconductors, this distribution is hysteretic in the critical state due to the partial penetration of the magnetic field in the thin superconducting film through pinned vortices. We report here an experimental observation of this memory effect. Our results are in good agreement with the predictions of the Bean model of the critical state without adjustable parameters. The memory effect allows to write and store permanent currents in micron-sized superconducting structures and paves the way toward engineered trapping potentials.

arXiv:0911.4095•Physical Review A•Dec 10, 2009•21 citations

Optically tailored magnetic potentials for ultracold atoms based on superconducting vortices

Baw Swe. Phyo

Atom chips are micro-fabricated devices which create versatile magnetic potentials for trapping, cooling and controlling ensembles of ultra-cold atoms. Advancing from the typical atom chips, currents from superconducting vortices are used to trap and manipulate the ultra-cold atoms in our experiments. The superconducting vortex traps can be configured by controlling strength and pulse time of external magnetic fields together with bias fields. In order to fully utilize reconfigurability, superconducting vortices are optically manipulated with laser light to generate desired vortex patterns with this tailored trapping potentials for ultra-cold atoms are created. We have carried out heat diffusion simulations of laser patterns and characterized laser power and pulse time to effectively configure the desired vortex potentials. We have also successfully manipulated vortex matter optically to create arbitrary vortex patterns and ring potentials for cold atoms to utilize in quantum simulations and on-chip matter wave interferometry applications. Moreover, cold atoms could be used as a sensitive probe to examine magnetic field distribution of the superconducting vortices and we have used this technique to experimentally verify the resulting magnetic potentials of superconducting vortices after optical manipulation. v First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to my teacher and mentor, Prof.

•Jan 1, 2019•0 citations
We store and control ultra-cold atoms in a new type of trap using the magnetic fields of vortices in a high-temperature superconducting micro-structure. We generate the attractive trapping potential for the atoms by combining the magnetic field of a superconductor in the remanent state with external homogeneous magnetic fields. We show the control of crucial atom trap characteristics such as an efficient intrinsic loading mechanism, spatial positioning of the trapped atoms and the vortex density in the superconductor. The measured trap characteristics are in good agreement with our numerical simulations.
We investigate superconducting chip structures for trapping and manipulating atoms. These structures are based on the average magnetic field of vortices induced in a type-II superconducting thin film. This magnetic field is the critical ingredient of the demonstrated vortex-based atom trap, which operate without transport current. We employ the hysteretic behavior of a superconducting thin film in the remanent state to generate different traps and flexible magnetic potentials for ultra-cold atoms. The experimental realization can be described by the Bean's critical-state method to model the vortex field through mesoscopic super currents induced in the thin strip. Various vortex patterns can be obtained by programming different loading-field and transport current sequences. Furthermore we will discuss the expected enhanced lifetime of atoms trapped close to a superconducting surface in comparison with a metallic surface.
We investigate superconducting chip structures for trapping and manipulating atoms. These structures are based on the average magnetic field of vortices induced in a type-II superconducting thin film. This magnetic field is the critical ingredient of the demonstrated vortex-based atom trap, which operate without transport current. We employ the hysteretic behavior of a superconducting thin film in the remanent state to generate different traps and flexible magnetic potentials for ultra-cold atoms. The experimental realization can be described by the Bean’s critical-state method to model the vortex field through mesoscopic super currents induced in the thin strip. Various vortex patterns can be obtained by programming different loading-field and transport current sequences. Furthermore we will discuss the expected enhanced lifetime of atoms trapped close to a superconducting surface in comparison with a metallic surface.
We design magnetic traps for atoms based on the average magnetic field of vortices induced in a type-II superconducting thin film. This magnetic field is the critical ingredient of the demonstrated vortex-based atom traps, which operate without transport current. We use Bean's critical-state method to model the vortex field through mesoscopic supercurrents induced in the thin strip. The resulting inhomogeneous magnetic fields are studied in detail and compared to those generated by multiple normally conducting wires with transport currents. Various vortex patterns can be obtained by programing different loading-field and transport-current sequences. These variable magnetic fields are employed to make versatile trapping potentials.
We employ the hysteretic behavior of a superconducting thin film in the remanent state to generate different traps and flexible magnetic potentials for ultracold atoms. The trap geometry can be programed by externally applied fields. This approach for atom optics is demonstrated by three different trap types realized on a single microstructure: a Z-type trap, a double trap, and a bias-field-free trap. Our studies show that superconductors in the remanent state provide a versatile platform for atom optics and applications in ultracold quantum gases.
Recently demonstrated superconducting atom chips provide a platform for trapping atoms and coupling them to solid-state quantum systems. Controlling these devices requires a full understanding of the supercurrent distribution in the trapping structures. For type-II superconductors, this distribution is hysteretic in the critical state due to the partial penetration of the magnetic field in the thin superconducting film through pinned vortices. We report here an experimental observation of this memory effect. Our results are in good agreement with the predictions of the Bean model of the critical state without adjustable parameters. The memory effect allows to write and store permanent currents in micron-sized superconducting structures and paves the way toward engineered trapping potentials.
Atom chips are micro-fabricated devices which create versatile magnetic potentials for trapping, cooling and controlling ensembles of ultra-cold atoms. Advancing from the typical atom chips, currents from superconducting vortices are used to trap and manipulate the ultra-cold atoms in our experiments. The superconducting vortex traps can be configured by controlling strength and pulse time of external magnetic fields together with bias fields. In order to fully utilize reconfigurability, superconducting vortices are optically manipulated with laser light to generate desired vortex patterns with this tailored trapping potentials for ultra-cold atoms are created. We have carried out heat diffusion simulations of laser patterns and characterized laser power and pulse time to effectively configure the desired vortex potentials. We have also successfully manipulated vortex matter optically to create arbitrary vortex patterns and ring potentials for cold atoms to utilize in quantum simulations and on-chip matter wave interferometry applications. Moreover, cold atoms could be used as a sensitive probe to examine magnetic field distribution of the superconducting vortices and we have used this technique to experimentally verify the resulting magnetic potentials of superconducting vortices after optical manipulation. v First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to my teacher and mentor, Prof.