Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy |
Bose Einstein Condensation on an Atom Chip
Supervisor:Brenton Hall
Suitable year level:5th year
Project Description
In our laboratory we have been fabricating microscopically structured
current carrying wires using femtosecond laser ablation techniques.
These structures are part of an atom chip which creates a magnetic trap
for laser cooled atoms such that can be efficiently evaporatively cooled to
quantum degeneracy, i.e. a Bose Einsten Condensate [1]. At the commencement
of this project the atom chip will be installed in a new ultrahigh vacuum
apparatus which uses a low velocity intense source of cold atoms (LVIS [2]).
This project will enable you to learn practical skills in laser cooling,
electronics, computer control, data acquisition and analysis, radio
frequency spectroscopy and optical imaging techniques. It will also broaden
your theoretical knowledge of atomic physics and the emerging field of
quantum-atom optics.
In undertaking this project you will be working in a research team
environment, alongside a PhD student and research fellow however
there will also be individual task components.
[1] Hall et al, J.Phys.B 39, 27 (2006) and references therein
[2] Lu et al, Phys.Rev.Lett. 77, 3331 (1996)
Expectations/Assessment
To be negotiated with the management team. A technical report will be
required summarising the outcomes of the project.
Further details:brhall @ groupwise.swin.edu.au
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