The Feasibility of a Fully Miniaturized Magneto-Optical Trap for Portable Ultracold Quantum Technology

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential for creating a fully miniaturized, long-lasting magneto-optical trap integrated into a compact system for portable quantum technologies, leveraging recent microfabrication advances.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of a sealed, micro-litre magneto-optical trap system capable of maintaining ultra-high vacuum for over 1000 days using passive pumping.

Findings

Achieved a sealed micro- litre vacuum system with $10^{-10}$ mbar for over 1000 days.

Utilized recent semiconductor microfabrication techniques for system integration.

Proved the engineering approach is feasible for portable quantum devices.

Abstract

Experiments using laser cooled atoms and ions show real promise for practical applications in quantum- enhanced metrology, timing, navigation, and sensing as well as exotic roles in quantum computing, networking and simulation. The heart of many of these experiments has been translated to microfabricated platforms known as atom chips whose construction readily lend themselves to integration with larger systems and future mass production. To truly make the jump from laboratory demonstrations to practical, rugged devices, the complex surrounding infrastructure (including vacuum systems, optics, and lasers) also needs to be miniatur- ized and integrated. In this paper we explore the feasibility of applying this approach to the Magneto-Optical Trap; incorporating the vacuum system, atom source and optical geometry into a permanently sealed micro- litre system capable of maintaining $10^{-10}$ mbar for more than 1000 days of operation with passive pumping alone. We demonstrate such an engineering challenge is achievable using recent advances in semiconductor microfabrication techniques and materials