Experiments with Superfluid Atom Circuits

POSTER

Abstract

We trap a neutral $^{23}$Na BEC in an all optical toroidal potential, and mechanically impart angular momentum to the BEC to obtain superfluid currents. The experiments done in our group have demonstrated the existence of persistent quantized currents and studied the behavior of the currents in the presence of ``a weak link barrier.'' Just as RF SQUIDS are used to detect magnetic fields, our setup could be used to detect small changes in rotation in an analogous way. We will report on our recent results, including the demonstration of hysteretic behavior and attempts to measure the current-phase relationship of the ``weak link barrier.''

*MURI, JQI, PFC

Authors

  • Avinash Kumar

    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST

  • J.G. Lee

    • University of Maryland, JQI
    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST
    • Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland

  • Stephen Eckel

    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST

  • Fred Jendrzejewski

    • University of Maryland, JQI
    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST

  • C.J. Lobb

    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST
    • Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland

  • William Phillips

    • NIST, JQI
    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST

  • G.K. Campbell

    • NIST, JQI
    • JQI, University of Maryland \& NIST
    • Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland