© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Introduction of advanced photonics research at the undergraduate level: an example from the Philippines

J. W. F. Liwag, Kees Karremans

Published May 28, 2002• 0 citations

Abstract

Laser cooling experiments are a good example of how the interaction between light and matter can be applied to manipulate neutral atoms. At the University of San Carlos we have constructed a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for rubidium (Rb) atoms. The setup is based on the design of the MOT Wieman et al used in their efforts to reach Bose-Einstein condensation. The use of diode lasers enables the introduction of these advanced experiments at undergraduate level. Since 1998, when the MOT became operational at USC, a great number of undergraduate students have done the experiment. Not only did they learn the basics of cooling and trapping, they also gained experience in operating lasers properly, vacuum technology, and techniques for frequency stabilization. In some cases students opted to perform spectroscopy experiments on Rb atoms, which could easily be done using this setup. Of course, the presence of the MOT also gave a great boost to the research in optoelectronics, a new research direction in our department. Characterizing the MOT has resulted in several scientific papers in local physics journals as well as presentations to the annual Philippine Physics Congress. The next step is towards the realization of Bose-Einstein condensation of Rb in our Optoelectronics Laboratory.

DOI: 10.1117/12.468754

Related papers

Characterization of the Magneto-Optical Trap for Rb Atoms

J. W. F. Liwag, Joseph Manyaga, Marlon Patiño +2 more

A magneto-optical trap (MOT) for rubidium (Rb) atoms has been in operation at the University of San Carlos Optoelectronics Research Laboratory in Cebu City since 1998. The experimental design for this MOT is based on the system described by Wieman et al. (1995). This system formed the backbone of the research which resulted in the first observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) by the same group in 1995. An essential step for realizing this remarkable result was the accuracy in the timing mechanism of the experiment. To obtain an MOT in which we can switch the laser and magnetic fields with sub-millisecond accuracy, we have put considerable efforts to realize a computer-controlled system. Previous measurements have been used to validate our new results. The realization of a fast switch for the trapping laser creates the opportunity to measure time-of-flight (TOF) signals. These ballistic measurements can be used to infer the temperature of the cloud of trapped atoms. We hope to continue working on this automated system of the MOT towards BEC as a long-term goal of our research group.

Science Diliman•Jul 4, 2012•2 citations

Design and construction of a pyramidal Magneto-Optical Trap for laser cooling of rubidium atoms

Stefan Mangnusson

In this Master's thesis a pyramidal Magneto-Optical trap (MOT) for rubidium has been designed and constructed.This will be used in the Atomic physics cources for undergraduate students at Lund Technical University.The theory for Laser Cooling and Trapping is covered.A detailed instruction of how to design and build a low-cost MOT is presented.All necessary components are now in the picosecond laboratory of Lund High Power Laser Facility.This report is a continuation of another Master's thesis, Lund Reports on Atomic Physics (LRAP) 325. 1 8. Chu, C. Cohen-Tannoudji and W.D. Phillips [22].

Lund reports on atomic physics•Jan 1, 2005•1 citation

Portable and versatile cold atom experiments

Ireland, Philip

This thesis describes the progress achieved towards two goals. One is the construction of a compact magneto-optical trap (MOT) apparatus, used both as a standalone undergraduate laboratory experiment and as part of a public engagement demonstration of cold atom physics. The setup, which utilises a dichroic atomic vapour laser lock (DAVLL) system plus homemade sideband generation electronics, is capable of trapping and cooling up to 8x10⁷ ⁸⁵Rb atoms in a standard six-beam laser cooling scheme. The second goal is the loading of an ultracold ensemble of ⁸⁷Rb atoms into novel optical trap geometries using a phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC SLM) for applications to atomtronics and quantum simulation. Details of a double vacuum chamber apparatus, designed to produce the first Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) at St Andrews, are provided. The setup incorporates a hybrid trap evaporative cooling scheme towards quantum degeneracy and reliably produces BECs of 1.9 10⁵ ⁸⁷Rb atoms. Two computational techniques, developed during the course of this project, are presented with the aim of creating flexible, smooth holographic optical traps. The first method illuminates a single SLM with overlapped, co-propagating light beams of different wavelengths to create a composite optical pattern for atom manipulation. The second uses conjugate gradient minimisation to create exceptionally high fidelity light patterns in both amplitude and phase for light in the output plane. These techniques, combined with the implementation of a light sheet into the experimental setup, are used to trap atoms in both a ring profile and in a set of narrow waveguides connected with a tunnelling barrier.

•Jun 24, 2019•1 citation

Magneto Optical Trapping of Rb 87

C. Awe

Magneto optical traps brilliantly combine semi-classical optics with modern physics. By carefully controlling the polarization and frequency of laser beams, it is possible to trap and cool atoms down to the millikelvin range at a relatively low cost. This has opened previously inaccessible physical domains to enterprising physicists all around the world, and is responsible for some of the most interesting experiments being conducted in AMO sciences today. We attempted to employ magneto optical trapping techniques to generate a sample of Rubidium 87 atoms for use in the development of multidimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy with comb lasers. My work entailed the construction and characterization of two external cavity diode lasers (ECDLs), as well as the assembly of a MOT system, which is as of 04/07/2015 not operational. Future work will focus on debugging the system.

•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

Design study of a Magneto-Optical Trap for laser cooling of rubidium atoms.

E. Gustafsson

In this Master's thesis a Pyramidal Magneto-Optical Trap for rubidium has been designed.The trap is intended to be used in Atomic Physics courses for demonstration and laboratory exercises.The theory for cooling and trapping 85 Rb and 87 Rb is developed.A detailed design of a low-cost and robust MOT is presented.Two frequency locked laser systems have been built.Most of the components necessary to build the MOT have been identified, borrowed or purchased.The mechanical support to hold a pyramidal mirror has also been realized.The report discusses how to complete the construction of the MOT.

Lund reports on atomic physics•Jan 1, 2004•2 citations

Optimization of Transfer of Cold Atoms From TwoDimensional Magneto Optical Trap to ThreeDimensional Magneto Optical Trap

Tirumalasetty Panduranga Mahesh, Nobuyuki Takei Supervisors Dr. Kenji Ohmori, Ayan Banerjee

This thesis reports on the generation of MOT for laser cooling and trapping of Rubidium 87 atoms. Probe-pump technique have been used in Rb gas cell and doppler free absorption peaks has been observed. Peak at the crossover frequency will be locked for laser cooling and repump beams. This locked freuqency used in MOT to trap Rb atoms. The technique of optical molasses is used to cool the atoms and quadrupole magnetic field applied to confine or trap atoms at the center of MOT. Two chambers are constructed for 2D and 3D MOT with different pressure. Rb atoms loaded efficiently from the high flux cold atom beam generated in a compact 2D MOT. This is the first step of Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC). A performance of 2D MOT was tested by another main chamber of 3D MOT contains 3 pairs of counter-propagating beams. Over 5x10⁶ atoms trapped in a 3D MOT with loading rate of 1:8x10⁶ atoms/sec. This experiment provided an excellent starting point for future experiment on Rydberg atoms in dense ultracold quantum gases.

•Apr 1, 2018•0 citations

Laser cooling experiments are a good example of how the interaction between light and matter can be applied to manipulate neutral atoms. At the University of San Carlos we have constructed a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for rubidium (Rb) atoms. The setup is based on the design of the MOT Wieman et al used in their efforts to reach Bose-Einstein condensation. The use of diode lasers enables the introduction of these advanced experiments at undergraduate level. Since 1998, when the MOT became operational at USC, a great number of undergraduate students have done the experiment. Not only did they learn the basics of cooling and trapping, they also gained experience in operating lasers properly, vacuum technology, and techniques for frequency stabilization. In some cases students opted to perform spectroscopy experiments on Rb atoms, which could easily be done using this setup. Of course, the presence of the MOT also gave a great boost to the research in optoelectronics, a new research direction in our department. Characterizing the MOT has resulted in several scientific papers in local physics journals as well as presentations to the annual Philippine Physics Congress. The next step is towards the realization of Bose-Einstein condensation of Rb in our Optoelectronics Laboratory.

A magneto-optical trap (MOT) for rubidium (Rb) atoms has been in operation at the University of San Carlos Optoelectronics Research Laboratory in Cebu City since 1998. The experimental design for this MOT is based on the system described by Wieman et al. (1995). This system formed the backbone of the research which resulted in the first observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) by the same group in 1995. An essential step for realizing this remarkable result was the accuracy in the timing mechanism of the experiment. To obtain an MOT in which we can switch the laser and magnetic fields with sub-millisecond accuracy, we have put considerable efforts to realize a computer-controlled system. Previous measurements have been used to validate our new results. The realization of a fast switch for the trapping laser creates the opportunity to measure time-of-flight (TOF) signals. These ballistic measurements can be used to infer the temperature of the cloud of trapped atoms. We hope to continue working on this automated system of the MOT towards BEC as a long-term goal of our research group.

In this Master's thesis a pyramidal Magneto-Optical trap (MOT) for rubidium has been designed and constructed.This will be used in the Atomic physics cources for undergraduate students at Lund Technical University.The theory for Laser Cooling and Trapping is covered.A detailed instruction of how to design and build a low-cost MOT is presented.All necessary components are now in the picosecond laboratory of Lund High Power Laser Facility.This report is a continuation of another Master's thesis, Lund Reports on Atomic Physics (LRAP) 325. 1 8. Chu, C. Cohen-Tannoudji and W.D. Phillips [22].

This thesis describes the progress achieved towards two goals. One is the construction of a compact magneto-optical trap (MOT) apparatus, used both as a standalone undergraduate laboratory experiment and as part of a public engagement demonstration of cold atom physics. The setup, which utilises a dichroic atomic vapour laser lock (DAVLL) system plus homemade sideband generation electronics, is capable of trapping and cooling up to 8x10⁷ ⁸⁵Rb atoms in a standard six-beam laser cooling scheme. The second goal is the loading of an ultracold ensemble of ⁸⁷Rb atoms into novel optical trap geometries using a phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC SLM) for applications to atomtronics and quantum simulation. Details of a double vacuum chamber apparatus, designed to produce the first Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) at St Andrews, are provided. The setup incorporates a hybrid trap evaporative cooling scheme towards quantum degeneracy and reliably produces BECs of 1.9 10⁵ ⁸⁷Rb atoms. Two computational techniques, developed during the course of this project, are presented with the aim of creating flexible, smooth holographic optical traps. The first method illuminates a single SLM with overlapped, co-propagating light beams of different wavelengths to create a composite optical pattern for atom manipulation. The second uses conjugate gradient minimisation to create exceptionally high fidelity light patterns in both amplitude and phase for light in the output plane. These techniques, combined with the implementation of a light sheet into the experimental setup, are used to trap atoms in both a ring profile and in a set of narrow waveguides connected with a tunnelling barrier.

Magneto optical traps brilliantly combine semi-classical optics with modern physics. By carefully controlling the polarization and frequency of laser beams, it is possible to trap and cool atoms down to the millikelvin range at a relatively low cost. This has opened previously inaccessible physical domains to enterprising physicists all around the world, and is responsible for some of the most interesting experiments being conducted in AMO sciences today. We attempted to employ magneto optical trapping techniques to generate a sample of Rubidium 87 atoms for use in the development of multidimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy with comb lasers. My work entailed the construction and characterization of two external cavity diode lasers (ECDLs), as well as the assembly of a MOT system, which is as of 04/07/2015 not operational. Future work will focus on debugging the system.

In this Master's thesis a Pyramidal Magneto-Optical Trap for rubidium has been designed.The trap is intended to be used in Atomic Physics courses for demonstration and laboratory exercises.The theory for cooling and trapping 85 Rb and 87 Rb is developed.A detailed design of a low-cost and robust MOT is presented.Two frequency locked laser systems have been built.Most of the components necessary to build the MOT have been identified, borrowed or purchased.The mechanical support to hold a pyramidal mirror has also been realized.The report discusses how to complete the construction of the MOT.

This thesis reports on the generation of MOT for laser cooling and trapping of Rubidium 87 atoms. Probe-pump technique have been used in Rb gas cell and doppler free absorption peaks has been observed. Peak at the crossover frequency will be locked for laser cooling and repump beams. This locked freuqency used in MOT to trap Rb atoms. The technique of optical molasses is used to cool the atoms and quadrupole magnetic field applied to confine or trap atoms at the center of MOT. Two chambers are constructed for 2D and 3D MOT with different pressure. Rb atoms loaded efficiently from the high flux cold atom beam generated in a compact 2D MOT. This is the first step of Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC). A performance of 2D MOT was tested by another main chamber of 3D MOT contains 3 pairs of counter-propagating beams. Over 5x10⁶ atoms trapped in a 3D MOT with loading rate of 1:8x10⁶ atoms/sec. This experiment provided an excellent starting point for future experiment on Rydberg atoms in dense ultracold quantum gases.