Cold atoms in singular potentials

By charging a thin wire we realize a pure attractive $1/{r}^{2}$ potential of variable strength for cold neutral atoms. Scattering experiments are performed where the charged wire is placed inside a confined gas of cold lithium atoms. We observe the ``falling'' of atoms into the $1/{r}^{2}$ singularity which so far has been only theoretically discussed in textbooks.By charging a thin wire we realize a pure attractive $1/{r}^{2}$ potential of variable strength for cold neutral atoms. Scattering experiments are performed where the charged wire is placed inside a confined gas of cold lithium atoms. We observe the ``falling'' of atoms into the $1/{r}^{2}$ singularity which so far has been only theoretically discussed in textbooks.

Physical Review LettersJul 27, 1998108 citations

Experiments with Cold Atoms

Jean Dalibard, Christophe Salomon

Birkhäuser Basel eBooksJan 1, 20041 citation

Formation of optical flux lattices for ultra cold atoms

Gediminas Juzeliūnas, Ian B. Spielman

We explore the optical flux lattices produced for ultra-cold atoms in the radiation field when both the atom-light coupling and the detuning exhibit an oscillatory behavior. We analyze not only the magnetic flux but also the geometric vector potential generating the flux, as well as the accompanying geometric scalar potential. We show how to deal with the gauge-dependent singularities of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) type appearing in the vector potentials for the optical flux lattices. We present a way to calculate the continuous magnetic flux through the elementary cell via the singularities of the vector potential inside the cell. The analysis is illustrated with a square optical flux lattice. We present a way of creating such a lattice using the Raman transitions induced by a set of properly chosen polarization-dependent standing waves propagating at a right angle and containing a time-phase difference.We explore the optical flux lattices produced for ultra-cold atoms in the radiation field when both the atom-light coupling and the detuning exhibit an oscillatory behavior. We analyze not only the magnetic flux but also the geometric vector potential generating the flux, as well as the accompanying geometric scalar potential. We show how to deal with the gauge-dependent singularities of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) type appearing in the vector potentials for the optical flux lattices. We present a way to calculate the continuous magnetic flux through the elementary cell via the singularities of the vector potential inside the cell. The analysis is illustrated with a square optical flux lattice. We present a way of creating such a lattice using the Raman transitions induced by a set of properly chosen polarization-dependent standing waves propagating at a right angle and containing a time-phase difference.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIEFeb 7, 20120 citations

Doing Solid State Physics With Cold Atoms

Tin-Lun Ho

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 7, 20070 citations

Trapping Cold Atoms Using Surface Plasmons with Phase Singularities Generated by Evanescent Bessel Beams

Nguyễn Thị Phương Lan, Dao Thi Thuy Nga, Nguyễn Ái Việt

When a laser Bessel beam light is totally reflected internally at the planar surface of a dielectric on which a thin film has been deposited, a surface plasmons with phase singularities can be produced. This two-dimensional plasmons lead to an attractive potential with enhancement. Using this effect, we construct a model for optical trapping cold atoms. Efficiency of the trap will be presented by an ellipse with average radius r in the ( x , y ) directions and the distance d from planar surface in the z -direction.When a laser Bessel beam light is totally reflected internally at the planar surface of a dielectric on which a thin film has been deposited, a surface plasmons with phase singularities can be produced. This two-dimensional plasmons lead to an attractive potential with enhancement. Using this effect, we construct a model for optical trapping cold atoms. Efficiency of the trap will be presented by an ellipse with average radius r in the ( x , y ) directions and the distance d from planar surface in the z -direction.

Journal of Physics Conference SeriesJun 26, 20155 citations

Cold Atoms on Frustrating Lattices

Dagim Tilahun, Allan H. MacDonald

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 8, 20070 citations

By charging a thin wire we realize a pure attractive

1/{r}^{2}

potential of variable strength for cold neutral atoms. Scattering experiments are performed where the charged wire is placed inside a confined gas of cold lithium atoms. We observe the ``falling'' of atoms into the

1/{r}^{2}

singularity which so far has been only theoretically discussed in textbooks.