Cold atoms are excellent metrological tools; they currently realize SI time and, soon, SI pressure in the ultra-high (UHV) and extreme high vacuum (XHV) regimes. The development of primary, vacuum metrology based on cold atoms currently falls under the purview of national metrology institutes. Under the emerging paradigm of the "quantum-SI", these technologies become deployable (relatively easy-to-use sensors that integrate with other vacuum chambers), providing a primary realization of the pascal in the UHV and XHV for the end-user. Here, we discuss the challenges that this goal presents. We investigate, for two different modes of operation, the expected corrections to the ideal cold-atom vacuum gauge and estimate the associated uncertainties. Finally, we discuss the appropriate choice of sensor atom, the light Li atom rather than the heavier Rb.Cold atoms are excellent metrological tools; they currently realize SI time and, soon, SI pressure in the ultra-high (UHV) and extreme high vacuum (XHV) regimes. The development of primary, vacuum metrology based on cold atoms currently falls under the purview of national metrology institutes. Under the emerging paradigm of the "quantum-SI", these technologies become deployable (relatively easy-to-use sensors that integrate with other vacuum chambers), providing a primary realization of the pascal in the UHV and XHV for the end-user. Here, we discuss the challenges that this goal presents. We investigate, for two different modes of operation, the expected corrections to the ideal cold-atom vacuum gauge and estimate the associated uncertainties. Finally, we discuss the appropriate choice of sensor atom, the light Li atom rather than the heavier Rb.

arXiv:1809.05378MetrologiaAug 21, 201851 citations

Pulsed loading of a magneto-optical trap on atom chip for fast pressure recovery in ultrahigh vacuum environment

Singh, Vivek, Vibhuti Bhushan Tiwari, A. Chaudhary +2 more

This study presents investigations on pulsed loading of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) on an atom chip in an UHV environment. Using three parallel resistively heated Rb-metal dispensers activated by pulsed current supply, approximately 3.0 $\times$ $10^{7}$ cold $^{87}Rb$ atoms were loaded into the MOT. A current pulse of $\sim$ 24 A with duration of $\sim$ 10 s raised the pressure in the chamber from 2.0 $\times$ $10^{-10}$ Torr to 3.3 $\times$ $10^{-10}$ Torr. Remarkably, the pressure recovery time after switching off the dispensers current was found to be $\sim$ 600 ms, making a significant advancement in achieving fast recovery of UHV environment surrounding the MOT region. This study is very useful for laser cooling and magnetic trapping / evaporative cooling of atoms on atom chip in the same UHV chamber.This study presents investigations on pulsed loading of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) on an atom chip in an UHV environment. Using three parallel resistively heated Rb-metal dispensers activated by pulsed current supply, approximately 3.0 $\times$ $10^{7}$ cold $^{87}Rb$ atoms were loaded into the MOT. A current pulse of $\sim$ 24 A with duration of $\sim$ 10 s raised the pressure in the chamber from 2.0 $\times$ $10^{-10}$ Torr to 3.3 $\times$ $10^{-10}$ Torr. Remarkably, the pressure recovery time after switching off the dispensers current was found to be $\sim$ 600 ms, making a significant advancement in achieving fast recovery of UHV environment surrounding the MOT region. This study is very useful for laser cooling and magnetic trapping / evaporative cooling of atoms on atom chip in the same UHV chamber.

arXiv:2403.11458Mar 18, 20240 citations

\times

10^{7}

cold

^{87}Rb

atoms were loaded into the MOT. A current pulse of

\sim

24 A with duration of

\sim

10 s raised the pressure in the chamber from 2.0

\times

10^{-10}

Torr to 3.3

\times

10^{-10}

Torr. Remarkably, the pressure recovery time after switching off the dispensers current was found to be

\sim

600 ms, making a significant advancement in achieving fast recovery of UHV environment surrounding the MOT region. This study is very useful for laser cooling and magnetic trapping / evaporative cooling of atoms on atom chip in the same UHV chamber.