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Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics

Atomic de Broglie waveguides and integrated atom-optics using permanent magnets

Timothy J. Davis

Published Aug 1, 1999• 17 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A method for creating miniature quadrupole traps for atoms is proposed. The method uses pairs of micro-fabricated dipole magnets to create a quadrupole field for trapping atoms in two dimensions while allowing free propagation in the third. When the dimensions of the trap are comparable with the de Broglie wavelengths of the atoms, the device becomes an atom waveguide. In this paper we discuss the properties of the magnetic dipoles, methods for their manufacture and present the de Broglie wave modes of an example waveguide. The method can be extended to create many different atom-optical devices on a substrate leading to the possibility of monolithic, integrated atom-optics devices.

DOI
10.1088/1464-4266/1/4/309

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A method for creating miniature quadrupole traps for atoms is proposed. The method uses pairs of micro-fabricated dipole magnets to create a quadrupole field for trapping atoms in two dimensions while allowing free propagation in the third. When the dimensions of the trap are comparable with the de Broglie wavelengths of the atoms, the device becomes an atom waveguide. In this paper we discuss the properties of the magnetic dipoles, methods for their manufacture and present the de Broglie wave modes of an example waveguide. The method can be extended to create many different atom-optical devices on a substrate leading to the possibility of monolithic, integrated atom-optics devices.
We report progress in our project on Integrated Atom Optics. We are exploring methods of producing surface-based microscopic atom optical elements that are made from permanent magnetic films and current-carrying microwires. We will discuss different configurations of microtraps, waveguides and couplers that can manipulate atomic de Broglie waves on the surface of a substrate. In particular we will describe the characteristics of a mirror magneto-optical trap that has allowed trapping of rubidium atoms in vicinity of a surface.
We describe the use of permanent magnetic microstructures based on grooved, perpendicularly magnetised thin films fabricated by electron-beam lithography as optical elements for atom optics. Strong reflection signals and predominantly specular reflection have been realised for beams of cold caesium or rubidium atoms normally incident on grooved perpendicularly magnetised microstructures with periodicities of 1--4 \\mu m. We discuss the use of perpendicularly magnetised microstructures to construct miniature integrated atom optical elements, including magnetic waveguides, microtraps and beamsplitters, for manipulating atomic de Broglie waves on the surface of a substrate.
We have devised a way to trap atoms above a magnetic surface using the Zeeman effect. The method is generally applicable to any paramagnetic atom with hyperfine structure and results in very strong confinement and, hence, a high vibrational frequency perpendicular to the surface. This allows the atomic de Broglie wave to propagate as in a single-mode 2D waveguide. We show how atoms can be continuously and unidirectionally coupled with high efficiency into the lowest mode of the waveguide. This invention makes possible the study of weakly interacting gases in 2D.
We consider the quantized motion of neutral atoms at very low temperature in a two-dimensional magnetic quadrupole structure formed, for example, by four current-carrying wires along the z direction. The magnetic field B\mathbf{B}B in the guide is proportional to the vector $(x,\ensuremath{-}y).$ We show that this field can be used to make a single-mode atomic de Broglie waveguide which has bound states of low angular momentum, even though the field at the center of the guide goes to zero. We investigate the spectrum and decay rate of the transverse modes for spin-1/2 and spin-1 atoms.