Demonstration of an inductively coupled ring trap for cold atoms

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel inductively coupled magnetic ring trap for cold atoms, using an ac magnetic field to induce a current in a copper ring, creating a smooth, scalable toroidal trap suitable for matterwave interferometry.

Contribution

First demonstration of an inductively coupled magnetic ring trap for cold atoms, enabling scalable and long-lived toroidal waveguides for quantum applications.

Findings

Achieved vacuum-limited lifetime in the trap

Demonstrated loading efficiency and adiabaticity of the magnetic potential

Produced a smooth cylindrically symmetric ring trap of radius 5 mm

Abstract

We report the first demonstration of an inductively coupled magnetic ring trap for cold atoms. A uniform, ac magnetic field is used to induce current in a copper ring, which creates an opposing magnetic field that is time-averaged to produce a smooth cylindrically symmetric ring trap of radius 5 mm. We use a laser-cooled atomic sample to characterise the loading efficiency and adiabaticity of the magnetic potential, achieving a vacuum-limited lifetime in the trap. This technique is suitable for creating scalable toroidal waveguides for applications in matterwave interferometry, offering long interaction times and large enclosed areas.