arXiv subjects

Peter Hannaford

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Hannaford.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Dynamics of reflection of ultracold atoms from a periodic 1D magnetic lattice potential

We report on an experimental study of the dynamics of the reflection of ultracold atoms from a periodic one-dimensional magnetic lattice potential. The magnetic lattice potential of period 10 \textmu m is generated by applying a uniform bias magnetic field to a microfabricated periodic structure on a silicon wafer coated with a multilayered TbGdFeCo/Cr magneto-optical film. The effective thickness of the magnetic film is about 960 nm. A detailed study of the profile of the reflected atoms as a function of externally induced periodic corrugation in the potential is described. The effect of angle of incidence is investigated in detail. The experimental observations are supported by numerical simulations.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Anomalous dispersion and negative group velocity in a coherence-free cold atomic medium

We have observed the propagation of an approximately 35 ns long light pulse with a negative group velocity through a laser-cooled 85Rb atomic medium. The anomalous dispersion results from linear atom-light interaction, and is unrelated to long-lived ground state coherences often associated with fast light in atomic media. The observed negative group velocity (-c/360) in the Rb magneto-optical trap for a pulse attenuated by less than 50% is in good agreement with the value of dispersion measured independently by an RF heterodyne method. The spectral region of anomalous dispersion is between 15 and 40 MHz, which is an order of magnitude wider than that typically associated with ground-state coherences.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

One dimensional lattice of permanent magnetic microtraps for ultracold atoms on an atom chip

We report on the loading and trapping of ultracold atoms in a one dimensional permanent magnetic lattice of period 10 micron produced on an atom chip. The grooved structure which generates the magnetic lattice potential is fabricated on a silicon substrate and coated with a perpendicularly magnetized multilayered TbGdFeCo/Cr film of effective thickness 960 nm. Ultracold atoms are evaporatively cooled in a Z-wire magnetic trap and then adiabatically transferred to the magnetic lattice potential by applying an appropriate bias field. Under our experimental conditions trap frequencies of up to 90 kHz in the magnetic lattice are measured and the atoms are trapped at a distance of less than 5 micron from the surface with a measured lifetime of about 450 ms. These results are important in the context of studies of quantum coherence of neutral atoms in periodic magnetic potentials on an atom chip.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

A class of permanent magnetic lattices for ultracold atoms

We report on a class of configurations of permanent magnets on an atom chip for producing 1D and 2D periodic arrays of magnetic microtraps with non-zero potential minima and variable barrier height for trapping and manipulating ultracold atoms and quantum degenerate gases. We present analytical expressions for the relevant physical quantities and compare them with our numerical results and with some previous numerical calculations. In one of the configurations of permanent magnets, we show how it is possible by changing the angle between the crossed periodic arrays of magnets to go from a 1D array of 2D microtraps to a 2D array of 3D microtraps and thus to continuously vary the barrier heights between the microtraps. This suggests the possibility of performing a type of `mechanical' BEC to Mott insulator quantum phase transition in a magnetic lattice. We also discuss a configuration of magnets which could realize a two-qubit quantum gate in a magnetic lattice.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Permanent magnetic lattices for ultracold atoms and quantum degenerate gases

We propose the use of periodic arrays of permanent magnetic films for producing magnetic lattices of microtraps for confining, manipulating and controlling small clouds of ultracold atoms and quantum degenerate gases. Using analytical expressions and numerical calculations we show that periodic arrays of magnetic films can produce one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) magnetic lattices with non-zero potential minima, allowing ultracold atoms to be trapped without losses due to spin flips. In particular, we show that two crossed layers of periodic arrays of parallel rectangular magnets plus bias fields, or a single layer of periodic arrays of square-shaped magnets with three different thicknesses plus bias fields, can produce 2D magnetic lattices of microtraps having non-zero potential minima and controllable trap depth. For arrays with micron-scale periodicity, the magnetic microtraps can have very large trap depths ($\sim$0.5 mK for the realistic parameters chosen for the 2D lattice) and very tight confinement.

cond-mat.other↗