Atom trapping and two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates in field-induced adiabatic potentials

TL;DR

This paper presents a method using radio frequency-induced adiabatic potentials to create two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates and shell states, enabling novel trapping configurations and studies of quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a versatile scheme for generating 2D traps and atomic shell states for BECs using time-dependent adiabatic potentials, including experimental loading procedures.

Findings

Successful creation of stable matter-wave bubble states.

Feasibility of preparing 2D Bose-Einstein condensates.

Potential to study collapse and revival phenomena.

Abstract

We discuss a method to create two-dimensional traps as well as atomic shell, or bubble, states for a Bose-Einstein condensate initially prepared in a conventional magnetic trap. The scheme relies on the use of time-dependent, radio frequency-induced adiabatic potentials. These are shown to form a versatile and robust tool to generate novel trapping potentials. Our shell states take the form of thin, highly stable matter-wave bubbles and can serve as stepping-stones to prepare atoms in highly-excited trap eigenstates or to study `collapse and revival phenomena'. Their creation requires gravitational effects to be compensated by applying additional optical dipole potentials. However, in our scheme gravitation can also be exploited to provide a route to two-dimensional atom trapping. We demonstrate the loading process for such a trap and examine experimental conditions under which a 2D condensate may be prepared.