The space atom laser: an isotropic source for ultra-cold atoms in microgravity
peer-reviewed
Erstveröffentlichung
2019-01-31Authors
Meister, Matthias
Roura, Albert
Rasel, Ernst Maria
Schleich, Wolfgang P.
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Published in
New Journal of Physics ; 21 (2019). - Art.-Nr. 013039. - eISSN 1367-2630
Link to original publication
https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaf7b5Faculties
Fakultät für NaturwissenschaftenInstitutions
Institut für QuantenphysikExternal cooperations
Leibniz Universität HannoverA&M University Texas
Document version
published version (publisher's PDF)Abstract
Atom laser experiments with Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) performed in ground-based
laboratories feature a coherent and directed beam of atoms which is accelerated by gravity. In
microgravity the situation is fundamentally different because the dynamics is entirely determined by
the repulsive interaction between the atoms and not by the gravitational force. As a result, the output
of a space atom laser is a spherical wave slowly expanding away from the initial BEC.Wepresent a
thorough theoretical study of this new source of matter waves based on rf outcoupling which exhibits
an isotropic distribution both in position and momentum even for an initially anisotropic trap. The
unique geometry of such a freely expanding, shell-shaped BEC offers new possibilities for matter
waves in microgravity and is complementary to other matter-wave sources prepared by delta-kick
collimation or adiabatic expansion. Our work paves the way for the upcoming experimental
realization of a space atom laser making use of NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory on the International
Space Station.
Publication funding
Gefördert vom Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg
Open-Access-Förderung durch die Universität Ulm
Open-Access-Förderung durch die Universität Ulm
Is supplemented by
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/aaf7b5#Subject headings
[LCSH]: Bose-Einstein condensation | Reduced gravity environments[Free subject headings]: Atom laser | Bose–Einstein condensate | Microgravity | Rf outcoupling
[DDC subject group]: DDC 530 / Physics
Metadata
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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-36749
Meister, Matthias et al. (2021): The space atom laser: an isotropic source for ultra-cold atoms in microgravity. Open Access Repositorium der Universität Ulm und Technischen Hochschule Ulm. http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-36749
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