Three-dimensional character of atom-chip-based rf-dressed potentials

TL;DR

This paper experimentally explores the three-dimensional properties of rf-dressed potentials on atom chips, demonstrating their robustness, low damping oscillations, and dynamic control for Bose-Einstein condensates, including beam-splitting and gravity compensation.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the 3D structure and dynamic manipulation of rf-dressed potentials for BECs on atom chips, including beam-splitting and gravity tuning techniques.

Findings

Rf-dressed potentials form connected 3D waveguides.

They are robust against small magnetic-field variations.

Long-lived, low-damping dipole oscillations are achievable.

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the properties of radio-frequency-dressed potentials for Bose-Einstein condensates on atom chips. The three-dimensional potential forms a connected pair of parallel waveguides. We show that rf-dressed potentials are robust against the effect of small magnetic-field variations on the trap potential. Long-lived dipole oscillations of condensates induced in the rf-dressed potentials can be tuned to a remarkably low damping rate. We study a beam-splitter for Bose-Einstein condensates and show that a propagating condensate can be dynamically split in two vertically separated parts and guided along two paths. The effect of gravity on the potential can be tuned and compensated for using a rf-field gradient.