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arXiv:1502.01858 · Physical Review Letters

Sensitivity of Ultracold Atoms to Quantized Flux in a Superconducting Ring

P. Weiss, M. Knufinke, Simon Bernon, Daniel Bothner, L. Sárkány, Claus Zimmermann, R. Kleiner, D. Koelle, József Fortágh, H. Hattermann

Published Mar 17, 2015• 29 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report on the magnetic trapping of an ultracold ensemble of (87)Rb atoms close to a superconducting ring prepared in different states of quantized magnetic flux. The niobium ring of 10 μm radius is prepared in a flux state n Φ(0), where Φ(0)=h/2e is the flux quantum and n varying between ±6. An atomic cloud of 250 nK temperature is positioned with a harmonic magnetic trapping potential at ∼18 μm distance below the ring. The inhomogeneous magnetic field of the supercurrent in the ring contributes to the magnetic trapping potential of the cloud. The induced deformation of the magnetic trap impacts the shape of the cloud, the number of trapped atoms, as well as the center-of-mass oscillation frequency of Bose-Einstein condensates. When the field applied during cooldown of the chip is varied, the change of these properties shows discrete steps that quantitatively match flux quantization.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.114.113003

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We report on the magnetic trapping of an ultracold ensemble of (87)Rb atoms close to a superconducting ring prepared in different states of quantized magnetic flux. The niobium ring of 10 μm radius is prepared in a flux state n Φ(0), where Φ(0)=h/2e is the flux quantum and n varying between ±6. An atomic cloud of 250 nK temperature is positioned with a harmonic magnetic trapping potential at ∼18 μm distance below the ring. The inhomogeneous magnetic field of the supercurrent in the ring contributes to the magnetic trapping potential of the cloud. The induced deformation of the magnetic trap impacts the shape of the cloud, the number of trapped atoms, as well as the center-of-mass oscillation frequency of Bose-Einstein condensates. When the field applied during cooldown of the chip is varied, the change of these properties shows discrete steps that quantitatively match flux quantization.
Abstract A lattice of traps for ultracold neutral atoms is a promising tool for experimental investigation in quantum physics and quantum information processing. We consider regular arrays of thin film type-II superconducting nanodisks, with only one pinned vortex in each of them, and also arrays of mesoscopic disks, each containing many vortices whose distribution is characterized by the superconducting current density. In both cases we show theoretically that the induced magnetic field can create a 3D lattice of magnetic traps for cold atoms without any additional bias field. Applying a bias DC field parallel to the superconductor surface, one can control the depth and sizes of the traps, their heights above the chip surface, potential barriers between the traps, as well as the structure and dimension of the lattices. In the adiabatic approximation the atom cloud shape is represented by the shape of a closed iso-surface of the magnetic field magnitude chosen in accordance with the atom cloud temperature. The computed trap sizes, heights and the distances between the neighboring traps are typically from tens to hundreds nanometers for nanodisks and of the order of 1 μ m for mesoscopic disks. Our calculations show that the depth of magnetic traps on mesoscopic disks is, typically, between 0.3 G and 7.6 G; for the nanodisks the depth is about 0.3 G.
We combine an RF-dressed magnetic trap with an optical potential to produce a toroidal trapping potential for ultracold 87Rb atoms. We load atoms into this ring trap from a conventional magnetic trap and compare the measured oscillation frequencies with theoretical predictions. This method of making a toroidal trap gives a high degree of flexibility such as a tuneable radius and variable transverse oscillation frequency. The ring trap is ideal for the creation of a multiply connected Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) and the study of persistent flow and we propose a scheme for introducing a flow of the atoms around the ring.
We report the experimental realization of a versatile ring trap for ultracold atoms. The ring geometry is created by the time-averaged adiabatic potential resulting from the application of an oscillating magnetic bias field to a rf-dressed quadrupole trap. Lifetimes for a Bose-Einstein condensate in the ring exceed 11s11\mathrm{s}11s and the ring radius was continuously varied from $50 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ to $262 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$. An efficient method of loading the ring from a conventional time-averaged orbiting potential trap is presented together with a rotation scheme which introduces angular momentum into the system. The ring presents an opportunity to study the superfluid properties of a condensate in a multiply connected geometry and also has applications for matter-wave interferometry.
The physics of superconducting films, and especially the role of remanent magnetization has a defining influence on the magnetic fields used to hold and manipulate atoms on superconducting atomchips. We magnetically trap ultracold ^{87} 87 Rb atoms on a 200 m wide and 500 m thick cryogenically cooled niobium Z-wire structure. By measuring the distance of the atomcloud to the trapping wire for different transport currents and bias fields, we probe the trapping characteristics of the niobium superconducting structure. At distances closer than the trapping wire width, we observe a different behaviour than that of normal conducting wire traps. Furthermore, we measure a stable magnetic trap at zero transport current. These observations point to the presence of a remanent magnetization in our niobium film which is induced by a transport current. This current-induced magnetization defines the trap close to the chip surface. Our measurements agree very well with an analytic predic tion based on the critical state model (CSM). Our results provide a new tool to control atom trapping on superconducting atomchips by designing the current distribution through its current history.
In this thesis I discuss work that has been carried out on the dynamics of a Bose Einstein condensate of Rb 87 produced near an atom chip. A Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC) is a quantum state of matter where a single quantum state becomes occupied by a macroscopic number of identical Bosons. In our case this is achieved by cooling a system of trapped identical rubidium 87 atoms to its ground state. To reach temperatures of condensation we initially laser cool atoms from room temperature, before loading them into a magnetic trap. The magnetic trap is produced through a combination of uniform magnetic fields from coils outside our vacuum chamber and currents running through wires on an atom chip. The atom chip is a microfabricated device, produced by a coating a silicon chip with a thin layer of gold and etching wires into it. Together, these fields create a magnetic field minimum 120μm from the surface of the chip which can be used to confine low field seeking hyperfine states of the atom in an elongated harmonic trap. Once the atoms are confined in the magnetic trap we used force evaporative cooling out to reach the phase space densities required for Bose Einstein condensation. The BEC is used to investigate the relative dynamics between the fraction of the atoms in the condensate to those not in the condensate. Our atom chip provided a suitable environment to investigate this due to fragmentation of the magnetic potential close to the chip. Small imperfections in the wires on our atom chip mean that the trapping potential isn’t smooth. Small regions of higher trapping frequency - or fragments - are formed. Due to the small size of these fragments it is possible to find a position where a condensate can form in the fragment, and see a potential of high frequency, whereas a non-condensed atom will see a lower frequency potential. We exploit this to set the condensed fraction moving relative to the non condensed part and investigate the subsequent damping of their motion relative to each other.
We describe a proof-of-principle experiment on a fully permanent magnet atom chip. We study ultracold atoms and produce a Bose-Einstein condensate. The magnetic trap is loaded efficiently by adiabatic transport of a magnetic trap via the application of uniform external fields. Radio frequency spectroscopy is used for in-trap analysis and to determine the temperature of the atomic cloud. The formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate is observed in time-of-flight images and as a narrow peak appearing in the radio frequency spectrum.