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

Physical Review A

All-optical Bose-Einstein condensation using a compressible crossed dipole trap

Toshiya Kinoshita, Trevor Wenger, David S. Weiss

Published Jan 10, 2005• 123 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe an all-optical method of making a $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Atoms are first cooled in an optical lattice and loaded into a crossed dipole trap with $1.06\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ light. Then the density is increased by dynamically reducing the trap size, while the atoms are evaporatively cooled by reducing the light intensity. Every $3.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$, we obtain a nearly pure BEC with $3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ atoms in their lowest internal energy state.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.71.011602

Related papers

All-optical production of a large Bose-Einstein condensate in a double compressible crossed dipole trap

Kazuya Yamashita, Kouhei Hanasaki, Akihiro Ando +2 more

We report on an all-optical production of a $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of ${10}^{6}$ atoms. We construct a double compressible crossed dipole trap (DCDT) formed by a high-power multimode fiber laser (MCDT) and a single-mode fiber amplifier (SCDT), which are both operated at $1.06\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. A very cold dense gas is first cooled by polarization gradient cooling in a three-dimensional optical lattice. More than $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ atoms are loaded into the enlarged DCDT. Both CDTs are then simultaneously compressed to significantly different sizes followed by evaporation, which is performed by lowering only the MCDT power. The tighter SCDT produces an extremely high collision rate and maintains the trap stiffness, which leads to rapid and efficient evaporation. After 0.4 s, a gas of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms with a phase-space density of 0.2 is confined within the SCDT alone. Further evaporation in 2.8 s yields a nearly pure BEC of $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms in the $|F{m}_{F}\ensuremath{\rangle}=|11\ensuremath{\rangle}$ state. This number is the largest generated among all-optical methods. Our approach significantly improves the atom number of a condensate and circumvents the severe atom loss previously reported for multimode fiber lasers.

Physical Review A•Jan 11, 2017•15 citations

Rapid production of a Rb85 Bose-Einstein condensate in a double compressible optical dipole trap

Haruka Otoishi, Shu Nagata, Takumi Yukawa +2 more

We develop an all-optical method to rapidly produce a large $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ Bose-Einstein condensate. $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ has a reputation as a difficult species to cool to quantum degeneracy due to its collisional properties. We solve these intrinsic difficulties by a combination of polarization gradient cooling in a 3D optical lattice and a compressible double-crossed dipole trap (DCDT). This lattice cooling circumvents the low rethermalization rate and loads more than ${10}^{7}$ atoms with a phase-space density larger than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ into the enlarged DCDT. The subsequent compressions and evaporations in the size-adjustable DCDT can maximize the cooling efficiency while reducing unnecessary inelastic losses. We fix the bias magnetic field to 161 G where the $s$-wave scattering length is positive and large. The forced evaporations function well against inelastic collisions at an average density of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{12}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. A nearly pure condensate of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ atoms is produced in 3.2 s of evaporation time.

Physical Review A•Aug 18, 2020•7 citations

All-Optical Formation of an Atomic Bose-Einstein Condensate

M. D. Barrett, J. A. Sauer, Michael Chapman

We have created a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms directly in an optical trap. We employ a quasielectrostatic dipole force trap formed by two crossed ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ laser beams. Loading directly from a sub-Doppler laser-cooled cloud of atoms results in initial phase space densities of $\ensuremath{\sim}1/200$. Evaporatively cooling through the BEC transition is achieved by lowering the power in the trapping beams over $\ensuremath{\sim}2\mathrm{s}$. The resulting condensates are $F\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1$ spinors with $3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms distributed between the ${m}_{F}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}(\ensuremath{-}1,0,1)$ states.

arXiv:cond-mat/0106027•Physical Review Letters•Jun 19, 2001•635 citations

Cold Atoms and Bose-Einstein Condensates in Optical Dipole Potentials

J. Nes

In 1925, Einstein predicted the condensation of bosons into the ground state of the system for low (but finite) temperatures. Several phenomena, including superfluidity and superconductivity have been associated with Bose-Einstein condensation, but these systems interact strongly with their environment and pure Bose-Einstein condensation could not be established. It took 70 years, in which time the laser was discovered, and laser cooling techniques to manipulate atoms in a dilute atomic gas, before Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute atomic gases could be demonstrated in 1995. In the first condensation experiments, BECs were created in a magnetic trap. Since in a magnetic trap not all mF states of the atom can be trapped simultaneously, thereby limiting the number of experiments that can be done, other ways of trapping and generating BECs were sought and found. In 2001, the first all-optical BEC was made, where the dipole force was used to trap atoms in the crossing of two far red detuned laser beams. In an optical dipole trap not only atoms in different internal states can be trapped, but also different atomic species simultaneously. In this thesis, the formation of an all-optical Bose-Einstein condensate with rubidium atoms is presented. Conventional all-optical BECs are usually created in high power CO2 laser dipole traps, or have complicated laser cooling schemes and complex dipole trap setups. In our simple and straightforward setup, we load rubidium atoms from a magneto-optical trap into a crossed optical dipole trap created by a single frequency Yb:YAG laser with a wavelength at 1030 nm. The small wavelength allows for a small diffraction limit, and permits us to use standard optical materials, thus making the experimental setup cost effective. Other attempts to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation in a multi-mode (frequency) fiber laser at 1064 nm failed, because the atom loss was quite high. It is assumed that the multi-mode character of the fiber laser induces Raman transitions in rubidium atoms, thereby heating them. We can trap about ∼ 5E7 atoms in a single beam dipole trap out of ∼ 5E9 atoms trapped in theMOT, and ∼ 350,000 atoms can be trapped in a crossed beam dipole trap due to the smaller trap volume. 70% of the atoms in the dipole trap is optically pumped into one mF state. Quantum degeneracy is reached by evaporatively cooling the atoms in the crossed dipole trap by ramping down the laser power with three linear ramps. We can independently change the power of each beam by an AOM. This allows us to use one beam as an atom waveguide for future experiments. After evaporation, we typically have about 10,000 atoms at a temperature below the critical temperature. We have proved Bose-Einstein condensation by using the anisotropic expansion of a quantum degenerate gas trapped in an anisotropic potential. The aspect ratio of our atom cloud changed during a time of flight from 0.7 to 1.2 in 10 ms, thus proving that we have reached quantum degeneracy. We have about 5,000 condensed atoms in our optical dipole trap at a temperature less than 100 nK. The remaining atoms are thermal. Bose-Einstein condensation is obtained within 8 s, and we can repeat the experiment every 30 s. It should be mentioned that the Bose-Einstein experiment was moved from the ”Leibniz Universität Hannover” to the ”Technische Universität Darmstadt”, and had to be completely rebuilt. All-optical Bose-Einstein condensation was reached within one year after the move. Our Bose-Einstein condensation setup presents an ideal starting point for using our condensates in combination with miniaturized atom optical setups based on our novel microfabricated optical elements. With our microlenses, we can create a number of possible dipole trap configurations, such as the dipole trap array or the cylindrical microlens array. Using microlenses in miniaturized atom optical setups opens a completely new field of coherent atom optics. Also because the tight confinement of the microtraps allows us to load a 3D BEC, a 1D BEC, or a Tonks-Girardeau gas in the micropotentials depending on the density.

•Jan 1, 2008•1 citation

All-Optical Bose-Einstein-Condensation of Sodium in a Crossed Dipole Trap

M. Johanning, Rainer Dumke, Jonathan D. Weinstein +2 more

We report all-optical Bose-Einstein-Condensation of sodium in a far-detuned crossed-dipole- trap. Sub-doppler-cooled sodium atoms are loaded into a crossed-dipole-trap and subsequently condensed by optical evaporation which yields condensates of 150000 atoms distributed over several spin-states.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2005•0 citations

All-optical Bose-Einstein condensates

M. D. Barrett, J.A. Sauer, Michael Chapman

Summary form only given. Recently, we have created a Bose condensate of /sup 87/Rb atoms directly in an optical trap formed by tightly focused laser beams. Following initial loading from a laser cooled gas, evaporative cooling through the BEC transition is achieved by simply lowering the depth of the optical trap. Our success is due in part to a high initial phase space density realized in the loading of our optical dipole trap and in part to the tight confinement of the atoms that permits rapid evaporative cooling to the BEC transition in 2 s.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Jun 25, 2003•0 citations
We describe an all-optical method of making a 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Atoms are first cooled in an optical lattice and loaded into a crossed dipole trap with 1.06\ensuremathμm1.06\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}1.06\ensuremathμm light. Then the density is increased by dynamically reducing the trap size, while the atoms are evaporatively cooled by reducing the light intensity. Every 3.3s3.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}3.3s, we obtain a nearly pure BEC with 3.5\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi1053.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}3.5\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi105 atoms in their lowest internal energy state.
We report on an all-optical production of a 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of 106{10}^{6}106 atoms. We construct a double compressible crossed dipole trap (DCDT) formed by a high-power multimode fiber laser (MCDT) and a single-mode fiber amplifier (SCDT), which are both operated at $1.06\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. A very cold dense gas is first cooled by polarization gradient cooling in a three-dimensional optical lattice. More than $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ atoms are loaded into the enlarged DCDT. Both CDTs are then simultaneously compressed to significantly different sizes followed by evaporation, which is performed by lowering only the MCDT power. The tighter SCDT produces an extremely high collision rate and maintains the trap stiffness, which leads to rapid and efficient evaporation. After 0.4 s, a gas of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms with a phase-space density of 0.2 is confined within the SCDT alone. Further evaporation in 2.8 s yields a nearly pure BEC of $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ atoms in the $|F{m}_{F}\ensuremath{\rangle}=|11\ensuremath{\rangle}$ state. This number is the largest generated among all-optical methods. Our approach significantly improves the atom number of a condensate and circumvents the severe atom loss previously reported for multimode fiber lasers.
We develop an all-optical method to rapidly produce a large 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb Bose-Einstein condensate. 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb has a reputation as a difficult species to cool to quantum degeneracy due to its collisional properties. We solve these intrinsic difficulties by a combination of polarization gradient cooling in a 3D optical lattice and a compressible double-crossed dipole trap (DCDT). This lattice cooling circumvents the low rethermalization rate and loads more than 107{10}^{7}107 atoms with a phase-space density larger than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ into the enlarged DCDT. The subsequent compressions and evaporations in the size-adjustable DCDT can maximize the cooling efficiency while reducing unnecessary inelastic losses. We fix the bias magnetic field to 161 G where the sss-wave scattering length is positive and large. The forced evaporations function well against inelastic collisions at an average density of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{12}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. A nearly pure condensate of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ atoms is produced in 3.2 s of evaporation time.
We have created a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of 87Rb{}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atoms directly in an optical trap. We employ a quasielectrostatic dipole force trap formed by two crossed CO2{\mathrm{CO}}_{2}CO2​ laser beams. Loading directly from a sub-Doppler laser-cooled cloud of atoms results in initial phase space densities of $\ensuremath{\sim}1/200$. Evaporatively cooling through the BEC transition is achieved by lowering the power in the trapping beams over $\ensuremath{\sim}2\mathrm{s}$. The resulting condensates are F=1F\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1F=1 spinors with $3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}$ atoms distributed between the ${m}_{F}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}(\ensuremath{-}1,0,1)$ states.
In 1925, Einstein predicted the condensation of bosons into the ground state of the system for low (but finite) temperatures. Several phenomena, including superfluidity and superconductivity have been associated with Bose-Einstein condensation, but these systems interact strongly with their environment and pure Bose-Einstein condensation could not be established. It took 70 years, in which time the laser was discovered, and laser cooling techniques to manipulate atoms in a dilute atomic gas, before Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute atomic gases could be demonstrated in 1995. In the first condensation experiments, BECs were created in a magnetic trap. Since in a magnetic trap not all mF states of the atom can be trapped simultaneously, thereby limiting the number of experiments that can be done, other ways of trapping and generating BECs were sought and found. In 2001, the first all-optical BEC was made, where the dipole force was used to trap atoms in the crossing of two far red detuned laser beams. In an optical dipole trap not only atoms in different internal states can be trapped, but also different atomic species simultaneously. In this thesis, the formation of an all-optical Bose-Einstein condensate with rubidium atoms is presented. Conventional all-optical BECs are usually created in high power CO2 laser dipole traps, or have complicated laser cooling schemes and complex dipole trap setups. In our simple and straightforward setup, we load rubidium atoms from a magneto-optical trap into a crossed optical dipole trap created by a single frequency Yb:YAG laser with a wavelength at 1030 nm. The small wavelength allows for a small diffraction limit, and permits us to use standard optical materials, thus making the experimental setup cost effective. Other attempts to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation in a multi-mode (frequency) fiber laser at 1064 nm failed, because the atom loss was quite high. It is assumed that the multi-mode character of the fiber laser induces Raman transitions in rubidium atoms, thereby heating them. We can trap about ∼ 5E7 atoms in a single beam dipole trap out of ∼ 5E9 atoms trapped in theMOT, and ∼ 350,000 atoms can be trapped in a crossed beam dipole trap due to the smaller trap volume. 70% of the atoms in the dipole trap is optically pumped into one mF state. Quantum degeneracy is reached by evaporatively cooling the atoms in the crossed dipole trap by ramping down the laser power with three linear ramps. We can independently change the power of each beam by an AOM. This allows us to use one beam as an atom waveguide for future experiments. After evaporation, we typically have about 10,000 atoms at a temperature below the critical temperature. We have proved Bose-Einstein condensation by using the anisotropic expansion of a quantum degenerate gas trapped in an anisotropic potential. The aspect ratio of our atom cloud changed during a time of flight from 0.7 to 1.2 in 10 ms, thus proving that we have reached quantum degeneracy. We have about 5,000 condensed atoms in our optical dipole trap at a temperature less than 100 nK. The remaining atoms are thermal. Bose-Einstein condensation is obtained within 8 s, and we can repeat the experiment every 30 s. It should be mentioned that the Bose-Einstein experiment was moved from the ”Leibniz Universität Hannover” to the ”Technische Universität Darmstadt”, and had to be completely rebuilt. All-optical Bose-Einstein condensation was reached within one year after the move. Our Bose-Einstein condensation setup presents an ideal starting point for using our condensates in combination with miniaturized atom optical setups based on our novel microfabricated optical elements. With our microlenses, we can create a number of possible dipole trap configurations, such as the dipole trap array or the cylindrical microlens array. Using microlenses in miniaturized atom optical setups opens a completely new field of coherent atom optics. Also because the tight confinement of the microtraps allows us to load a 3D BEC, a 1D BEC, or a Tonks-Girardeau gas in the micropotentials depending on the density.
Summary form only given. Recently, we have created a Bose condensate of /sup 87/Rb atoms directly in an optical trap formed by tightly focused laser beams. Following initial loading from a laser cooled gas, evaporative cooling through the BEC transition is achieved by simply lowering the depth of the optical trap. Our success is due in part to a high initial phase space density realized in the loading of our optical dipole trap and in part to the tight confinement of the atoms that permits rapid evaporative cooling to the BEC transition in 2 s.