Challenges to miniaturizing cold atom technology for deployable vacuum metrology

Eckel, Stephen; Barker, Daniel S.; Fedchak, James A.; Klimov, Nikolai N.; Norrgard, Eric; Scherschligt, Julia; Makrides, Constantinos; Tiesinga, Eite

doi:10.1088/1681-7575/aadbe4

Cited by 46 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Select other atomic species in the periodic table, notably chromium [11], have also been laser cooled. Research with these ultracold atomic samples has led to the simulation of exotic phases in quantum-degenerate gases [12], a novel generation of optical atomic clocks [13], atom sources for nanofabrication [14], matter-wave interferometry [15], and the development of other sensitive detectors [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects for laser cooling of polyatomic molecules with increasing complexity

Kłos

Kotochigova

2020

Phys. Rev. Research

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Optical cycling transitions and direct laser cooling have recently been demonstrated for a number of alkalineearth dimers and trimer molecules. This is made possible by diagonal Franck-Condon factors between the vibrational modes of the optical transition. Achieving a similar degree of cooling to microkelvin equivalent kinetic energy for larger polyatomic molecules, however, remains challenging. Since polyatomic molecules are characterized by multiple degrees of freedom and have a correspondingly more complex structure, it is far from obvious whether there exist polyatomic molecules that can repeatedly scatter photons. Here, we propose chemical substitution approaches to engineer large polyatomic molecules with optical cycling centers (OCCs) containing alkaline-earth oxide dimers or acetylenic alkaline-earth trimers (i.e., M−C ≡ C) connected to (CH) n chains or fullerenes. To validate the OCC-character of the selected molecules, we performed electronic structure calculations of the equilibrium configuration of both ground and excited potential energy surfaces, evaluated their vibrational and bending modes, and corresponding Franck-Condon factors for all but the most complex molecules. For fullerenes, we have shown that OCCs based on M−C ≡ C can perform better than those based on alkaline-earth oxide dimers. In addition, for heavier polyatomic molecules it might be advantageous to attach two OCCs, thereby potentially doubling the photon scattering rate and thus speeding up cooling rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects for laser cooling of polyatomic molecules with increasing complexity

Kłos

Kotochigova

2020

Phys. Rev. Research

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“…Our design can easily be adapted to serve as cold gas source for a variety of applications. By implementing differential pumping or using a low-outgassing atom source (rather than a dispenser) [46,47], our device could be used as a primary vacuum gauge [9,10]. The diffraction grating period and etch depth can be altered to optimize trapping of other elements, such as Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, or Yb.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-Beam Zeeman Slower and Magneto-Optical Trap Using a Nanofabricated Grating

et al. 2019

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We demonstrate a compact (0.25 L) system for laser cooling and trapping atoms from a heated dispenser source. Our system uses a nanofabricated diffraction grating to generate a magnetooptical trap (MOT) using a single input laser beam. An aperture in the grating allows atoms from the dispenser to be loaded from behind the chip, increasing the interaction distance of atoms with the cooling light. To take full advantage of this increased distance, we extend the magnetic field gradient of the MOT to create a Zeeman slower. The MOT traps approximately 10 6 7 Li atoms emitted from an effusive source with loading rates greater than 10 6 s −1 . Our design is portable to a variety of atomic and molecular species and could be a principal component of miniaturized cold-atom-based technologies.

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“…2 , the MOT loading curve is acquired each time the B-field is turned ON (to turn on the MOT). Data points of the MOT atom number loading curve are then approximated by an exponential function of time constant used to calculate the background pressure 48 , 49 . All background pressure data points shown in figures of this manuscript were obtained using this approach.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced observation time of magneto-optical traps using micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps

Boudot

McGilligan

Moore³

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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We show that micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps (NEGs) can extend the time over which laser cooled atoms can be produced in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), in the absence of other vacuum pumping mechanisms. In a first study, we incorporate a silicon-glass microfabricated ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cell with silicon etched NEG cavities and alumino–silicate glass (ASG) windows and demonstrate the observation of a repeatedly-loading MOT over a 10 min period with a single laser-activated NEG. In a second study, the capacity of passive pumping with laser activated NEG materials is further investigated in a borosilicate glass-blown cuvette cell containing five NEG tablets. In this cell, the MOT remained visible for over 4 days without any external active pumping system. This MOT observation time exceeds the one obtained in the no-NEG scenario by almost five orders of magnitude. The cell scalability and potential vacuum longevity made possible with NEG materials may enable in the future the development of miniaturized cold-atom instruments.

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Challenges to miniaturizing cold atom technology for deployable vacuum metrology

Cited by 46 publications

References 51 publications

Prospects for laser cooling of polyatomic molecules with increasing complexity

Prospects for laser cooling of polyatomic molecules with increasing complexity

Single-Beam Zeeman Slower and Magneto-Optical Trap Using a Nanofabricated Grating

Enhanced observation time of magneto-optical traps using micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps

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