Reconfigurable self-sufficient traps for ultracold atoms based on a superconducting square

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel method of trapping ultracold atoms using self-sufficient magnetic fields generated by supercurrents in a superconducting square, eliminating the need for external fields and enabling flexible trap configurations.

Contribution

It introduces a reconfigurable, self-sufficient trapping technique for ultracold atoms using vortices in a superconducting square, advancing quantum control methods.

Findings

Successful trapping of ultracold atoms with supercurrent-induced magnetic fields.

Ability to reconfigure traps by applying bias fields to split the central trap.

Trap parameters depend on supercurrent distributions and vortex configurations.

Abstract

We report on the trapping of ultracold atoms in the magnetic field formed entirely by persistent supercurrents induced in a thin film type-II superconducting square. The supercurrents are carried by vortices induced in the 2D structure by applying two magnetic field pulses of varying amplitude perpendicular to its surface. This results in a self-sufficient quadrupole trap that does not require any externally applied fields. We investigate the trapping parameters for different supercurrent distributions. Furthermore, to demonstrate possible applications of these types of supercurrent traps we show how a central quadrupole trap can be split into four traps by the use of a bias field.