Atom chip apparatus for experiments with ultracold rubidium and potassium
POSTER
Abstract
We present a dual chamber apparatus for experiments with ultracold gases of $^{87}$Rb and $^{39}$K atoms on an atom chip. The apparatus produces quasi-pure Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) of $3\times10^4$ $^{87}$Rb atoms in an atom chip micro-magnetic trap. We operate a $^{39}$K magneto-optical trap (MOT) and describe our progress toward loading these atoms into the chip trap. The apparatus features a dual-species MOT, a purely electrical magnetic transport system, and a radio-frequency (RF) capable atom chip system. The apparatus is well suited for studies of atom-surface forces, quantum pumping and transport experiments, and RF manipulation of cold atoms. We present our plans and progress for an experiment to study scattering of a BEC from an amplitude modulated barrier, a first step toward observing quantum pumping. We also detail our progress on using RF potentials for mechanical manipulation of $^{39}$K atoms at the chip.
*This work was supported by Jeffress Memorial Trust, VSGC, and the College of William and Mary.