Versatile two-dimensional potentials for ultra-cold atoms

Abstract

We propose and investigate a technique for generating smooth two-dimensional potentials for ultra-cold atoms based on the rapid scanning of a far-detuned laser beam using a two-dimensional acousto-optical modulator (AOM). We demonstrate the implementation of a feed-forward mechanism for fast and accurate control of the spatial intensity of the laser beam, resulting in improved homogeneity for the atom trap. This technique could be used to generate a smooth toroidal trap that would be useful for static and dynamic experiments on superfluidity and persistent currents with ultra-cold atoms.

8 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (2)

• Observation of persistent flow of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a toroidal trap
• A large magnetic storage ring for Bose-Einstein condensates

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Experimental demonstration of painting arbitrary and dynamic potentials for Bose-Einstein condensates
• Rotational Fluxons of Bose-Einstein Condensates in Coplanar Double-Ring Traps
• Dynamic optical lattices: two-dimensional rotating and accordion lattices for ultracold atoms
• Excited spin states and phase separation in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates
• Dark dynamic acousto-optic ring lattices for ultracold atoms
• Manipulation of quantum particles in rapidly oscillating potentials by inducing phase hops
• Scale invariant thermodynamics of a toroidally trapped Bose gas