Rotation Sensing with Ultracold Atoms

Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are well-known for their ability to measure extremely small magnetic fields. An analogous device can be constructed using superfluid 3He, producing two-path quantum interference that is sensitive to rotation of the interferometer. Recently, quantum interference has been observed using a dilute gas Bose-Einstein Condensate, allowing for direct measurement of the critical current across Josephson junctions. We propose to combine the techniques outlined above in a cold atoms experiment, with the goal of an even higher sensitivity to rotation.

Vacuum System

The aim of the experiment is to create and study a Rubidium Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) in a ring trap. The superfluidity of the BEC leads to quantised jumps in its angular momentum, such that a high sensitivity to rotation can be achieved. The first step to achieve this goal is to generate a BEC in a new Ultra High Vacuum double-chamber apparatus, which has recently been constructed. In the first, higher pressure, chamber a 2D-MOT and push beam create a high-flux atom source, which traverses a differential pumping section before loading a 3D-MOT in the second chamber, where evaporative cooling and the science experiments will also take place.

The second step is to produce a ring trap geometry with a Spatial Light Modulator overlapped with a light sheet, and to trap the atoms in this optical trap. Initial tests of the rotation sensor will be performed by stirring the BEC within the ring.

Current Team: D Bowman, P Ireland, M Anderson, S Town, G D Bruce, D Cassettari
Collaborators: A Arnold (Strathclyde)

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Contact

Cold Atoms Group
School of Physics and Astronomy
University of St Andrews
North Haugh
St Andrews
Fife, KY16 9SS, UK

phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3186
fax: +44 (0)1334 46 3104

Recent News

16.05.2017 - Our conjugate gradient minimization code is now available here.
10.05.2017 - High-fidelity phase and amplitude control of holograms paper published in Optics Express.
01.02.2017 - We welcome our new Masters student Andrew Morgan who will be working on the teaching lab experiment creating a Rubidium and Lithium MOT.
30.01.2017 - High-fidelity phase and amplitude control of holograms paper now on arXiv.
22.09.2016 - Liam highly commended by Undergraduate Awards.
18.07.2016 - Topological Kondo paper published in New Journal of Physics.
01.07.2016 - Congratulations to Liam for winning the prize for best theoretical physics project!
23.06.2016 - Dr Jordi Mur-Petit visits St Andrews and gives a talk on quantum impurities as probes of complex quantum systems.
08.06.2016 - Welcome to our new summer student Sinead!
20.06.2016 - Dona attends a workshop on engineering quantum matter (EQM) at St Andrews and presents a poster.
25.05.2016 - Congratulations to Liam for winning the final year project poster prize!

Contact

Cold Atoms Group
School of Physics and Astronomy
University of St Andrews
North Haugh
St Andrews
Fife, KY16 9SS, UK

phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3186
fax: +44 (0)1334 46 3104