Magnetic transport apparatus for the production of ultracold atomic gases in the vicinity of a dielectric surface

TL;DR

This paper introduces a specialized apparatus for studying atom-surface interactions with ultracold rubidium gases near a dielectric surface, featuring innovative magnetic transport and successful Bose-Einstein condensate production close to the surface.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel vacuum apparatus with optimized magnetic transport and a hybrid trapping method for ultracold atoms near a dielectric surface.

Findings

Achieved 70% magnetic transport efficiency with minimal heating.

Successfully loaded a hybrid optical-magnetic trap with ultracold rubidium.

Produced Bose-Einstein condensates near the dielectric surface.

Abstract

We present an apparatus designed for studies of atom-surface interactions using quantum degenerate gases of $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb in the vicinity of a room temperature dielectric surface. The surface to be investigated is a super-polished face of a glass Dove prism mounted in a glass cell under ultra-high vacuum (UHV). To maintain excellent optical access to the region surrounding the surface magnetic transport is used to deliver ultracold atoms from a separate vacuum chamber housing the magneto-optical trap (MOT). We present a detailed description of the vacuum apparatus highlighting the novel design features; a low profile MOT chamber and the inclusion of an obstacle in the transport path. We report the characterization and optimization of the magnetic transport around the obstacle, achieving transport efficiencies of 70% with negligible heating. Finally we demonstrate the loading of a hybrid optical-magnetic trap with $^{87}$Rb and the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates via forced evaporative cooling close to the dielectric surface.