Atom trapping with a thin magnetic film

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates trapping and cooling of rubidium atoms to Bose-Einstein condensation using a magnetic potential generated by a patterned hard disk platter, revealing surface-induced fragmentation and dispersive reflection effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel magnetic trapping method using a patterned hard disk surface for Bose-Einstein condensation of rubidium atoms.

Findings

Achieved BEC near a magnetic surface with a hard disk platter.

Observed atomic cloud fragmentation at close distances due to magnetic imperfections.

Detected dispersive effects when atoms reflected from the magnetic surface.

Abstract

We have created a $^{87}$Rb Bose-Einstein condensate in a magnetic trapping potential produced by a hard disk platter written with a periodic pattern. Cold atoms were loaded from an optical dipole trap and then cooled to BEC on the surface with radiofrequency evaporation. Fragmentation of the atomic cloud due to imperfections in the magnetic structure was observed at distances closer than 40 $\mu$m from the surface. Attempts to use the disk as an atom mirror showed dispersive effects after reflection.