Sensitivity of ultracold atoms to quantized flux in a superconducting ring

TL;DR

This study demonstrates how ultracold rubidium atoms trapped near a superconducting niobium ring are sensitive to the ring's quantized magnetic flux states, affecting the atomic cloud's properties in a measurable way.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of the influence of quantized flux in a superconducting ring on nearby ultracold atoms, revealing a new method to probe flux quantization effects.

Findings

Atomic cloud deformation correlates with flux states.

Discrete changes in trap properties match flux quantization steps.

Magnetic field variations during cooldown affect flux states.

Abstract

We report on the magnetic trapping of an ultracold ensemble of $^{87}$Rb atoms close to a superconducting ring prepared in different states of quantized magnetic flux. The niobium ring of 10 $\mu$m radius is prepared in a flux state $n \Phi_0$, with $\Phi_0 = h / 2e$ the flux quantum and $n$ varies between $\pm 5$. An atomic cloud of 250 nK temperature is positioned with a harmonic magnetic trapping potential at $\sim 18 \mu$m distance below the ring. The inhomogeneous magnetic field of the supercurrent in the ring contributes to the magnetic trapping potential of the cloud. The induced deformation of the magnetic trap impacts the shape of the cloud, the number of trapped atoms as well as the center-of-mass oscillation frequency of Bose-Einstein condensates. When the field applied during cooldown of the chip is varied, the change of these properties shows discrete steps that quantitatively match flux quantization.