dc.contributor.author | Carter, Jeffrey David | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2007-09-27 14:37:51 (GMT) | |
dc.date.available | 2007-09-27 14:37:51 (GMT) | |
dc.date.issued | 2007-09-27T14:37:51Z | |
dc.date.submitted | 2007 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10012/3339 | |
dc.description.abstract | A system suitable for studying interactions between ⁸⁷Rb Rydberg atoms and metal surfaces has been constructed. This thesis describes the design and construction of the apparatus, and some test results. Atoms in a vapor cell magneto-optical trap are transferred to a macroscopic Ioffe-Pritchard trap, where they will be RF evaporatively cooled and loaded into a magnetic microtrap (atom chip). Confinement of cold clouds at controllable distances (5–200 μm)} from a metal surface is possible. The effects of atom-surface interactions can be studied with Rydberg atom spectroscopy.
Some functionality of the apparatus has been demonstrated. Approximately 1.5×10⁷ atoms were loaded into a mirror MOT, and about 6×10⁶ atoms were optically pumped to the |F=2, m_F=2> hyperfine ground state and confined in a macroscopic Ioffe-Pritchard trap. The temperature of the cloud in the trap was 42 ± 5 μK, and the 1/e lifetime is 1–1.5 s. Forced RF evaporation has been used to measure the magnetic field at the trap minimum, but RF evaporative cooling has not yet been demonstrated. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Waterloo | en |
dc.subject | ultracold atoms | en |
dc.subject | Rydberg atoms | en |
dc.subject | atom chip | en |
dc.subject | laser cooling | en |
dc.subject | magneto-optical trap | en |
dc.subject | atomic molecular optical physics | en |
dc.title | An apparatus for studying interactions between Rydberg atoms and metal surfaces | en |
dc.type | Master Thesis | en |
dc.pending | false | en |
dc.subject.program | Physics | en |
uws-etd.degree.department | Physics and Astronomy | en |
uws-etd.degree | Master of Science | en |
uws.typeOfResource | Text | en |
uws.peerReviewStatus | Unreviewed | en |
uws.scholarLevel | Graduate | en |