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Thermally Induced Losses in Ultra-Cold Atoms Magnetically Trapped Near Room-Temperature Surfaces

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Abstract

We have measured magnetic trap lifetimes of ultra-cold 87Rb atoms at distances of 5–1000 µm from surfaces of conducting metals with varying resistivity. Good agreement is found with a theoretical model for losses arising from near-field magnetic thermal noise, confirming the complications associated with holding trapped atoms close to conducting surfaces. A dielectric surface (silicon) was found in contrast to be so benign that we are able to evaporatively cool atoms to a Bose–Einstein condensate by using the surface to selectively adsorb higher energy atoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and, University of Colorado, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309-0440, USA

    D. M. Harber & J. M. Obrecht

  2. Quantum Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA

    J. M. McGuirk & E. A. Cornell

Authors
  1. D. M. Harber
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  2. J. M. McGuirk
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  3. J. M. Obrecht
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  4. E. A. Cornell
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Harber, D.M., McGuirk, J.M., Obrecht, J.M. et al. Thermally Induced Losses in Ultra-Cold Atoms Magnetically Trapped Near Room-Temperature Surfaces. Journal of Low Temperature Physics 133, 229–238 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026084606385

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