It is shown that when a magnetic field is used to support neutral atoms against the gravitational force $mg$ , the total curvature of the field magnitude $B$ must be larger than ${m}^{2}{g}^{2}∕(2{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}B)$, where $\ensuremath{\mu}$ is the magnetic moment of the atoms. This limits the minimum confinement strength obtainable for a trapped atomic gas. It is also conjectured that the curvature must be larger than twice this value for a magnetic potential that varies in only one or two dimensions, such as an atomic waveguide.It is shown that when a magnetic field is used to support neutral atoms against the gravitational force $mg$, the total curvature of the field magnitude $B$ must be larger than ${m}^{2}{g}^{2}∕(2{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}B)$, where $\ensuremath{\mu}$ is the magnetic moment of the atoms. This limits the minimum confinement strength obtainable for a trapped atomic gas. It is also conjectured that the curvature must be larger than twice this value for a magnetic potential that varies in only one or two dimensions, such as an atomic waveguide.

arXiv:cond-mat/0512102Physical Review AJan 26, 200612 citations

It is shown that when a magnetic field is used to support neutral atoms against the gravitational force

mg

, the total curvature of the field magnitude

B

must be larger than ${m}^{2}{g}^{2}∕(2{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}B)$, where $\ensuremath{\mu}$ is the magnetic moment of the atoms. This limits the minimum confinement strength obtainable for a trapped atomic gas. It is also conjectured that the curvature must be larger than twice this value for a magnetic potential that varies in only one or two dimensions, such as an atomic waveguide.