CC BY
7The 30th International Conference on Advanced Laser Technologies ALT'23
P-I-7
Efficient ultracold atoms source for quantum sensing
A. Afanasiev1, P. Skakunenko12, D. Bykova13, A. Kalmykov1, R. Kirtaev2, D. Negrov2,
V. Balykin1
1-Institute of Spectroscopy Russian Academy of Sciences, Fizicheskaya Str., 5, Moscow, Troitsk, 108840, Russia
2- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow Reg., 141700, Russia
3- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya str., 20, Moscow, 101000, Russia
afanasiev@isan. troitsk. ru
Atom interferometry is considered as a new platform for development of quantum sensors. They can be used for high precision fundamental experiments and for solving numerous applied problems. Among the fundamental problems are the following: the detection of gravitational waves, the search for dark matter, tests of dark energy theories, tests of the equivalence principle and validity of quantum mechanics at macroscopic scale. Among the applied problems, the most important, are the study of the Earth's gravitational field, atomic clocks and applications to navigation. Obviously, the development of an atom interferometry approaches gives us the new stage of quantum metrology.
An important task in order to create efficient quantum sensors is the formation of an ensemble of ultracold atoms in a magneto-optical trap. Such an atomic ensemble is further used as a source of atoms in the construction of a quantum sensor. The number of atoms in an ensemble determines the accuracy of quantum sensors. For this reason, it is necessary to form ultracold atom source with as many atoms as possible.
This problem can be solved with using atom chip technology [1]. Atom chip is the combination of advanced industrial microelectronics technology and atom optical techniques to generate and control ultracold atomic ensembles. An atom chip can provide the ability to trap and manipulate atoms. The atom chip also enables Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of atoms.
The First Russian atom chip was developed in the Institute of spectroscopy [2]. For efficient loading of atom chip cold atom beam focusing was considered [3,4]. It was shown that the atomic flow can be gain up to 169 times. Because of such magnification it is possible to construct quantum sensors with high repetition rates. Also, a new design of atom chip was created for optimization of laser cooling. It makes atom chip as the efficient atom source for quantum sensors.
The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-22-00255, https://rscf.ru/pro-ject/23-22-00255
[1] M. Keil, et. al, "Fifteen years of cold matter on the atom chip: promise, realizations, and prospects", Journal of Modern Optics, 63, 1840, (2016).
[2] A.E. Afanasiev, et al., "Single-layer atom chip for continuous operation: Design, fabrication and performance", Optics & Laser Technology, 148, 107698 (2022).
[3] A.E. Afanasiev, et al., "Focusing of an Atomic Beam for the Efficient Loading of an Atom Chip". Jetp Lett. 115, 509 (2022).
[4] D.V. Bykova, et al., "Sharp focusing of an atomic beam using Doppler and sub-Doppler laser cooling mechanisms in a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap". Jetp Lett. 118, to be published (2023).
