Optical Spectroscopy of Ultracold Atoms on an Atom Chip

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates high-resolution optical spectroscopy of magnetically trapped ultracold atoms on an atom chip, enabling real-time monitoring of atomic properties with near-single atom sensitivity, useful for quantum sensing and ultracold mixture studies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel spectroscopic technique combining photoionization detection with atom chip trapping for real-time, high-sensitivity analysis of ultracold atoms.

Findings

Achieved high-resolution spectra within hundreds of milliseconds.

Detected atomic signals with sensitivities close to single-atom level.

Monitored temperature and decay rates in real time with minimal losses.

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate optical spectroscopy of magnetically trapped atoms on an atom chip. High resolution optical spectra of individual trapped clouds are recorded within a few hundred milliseconds. Detection sensitivities close to the single atom level are obtained by photoionization of the excited atoms and subsequent ion detection with a channel electron multiplier. Temperature and decay rates of the trapped atomic cloud can be monitored in real time for several seconds with only little detection losses. The spectrometer can be used for investigations of ultracold atomic mixtures and for the development of interferometric quantum sensors on atom chips.