Design of a multi-region optical trap for non-equilibrium Fermi gases

Quantum degenerate Fermi gases allow exploration of transport and non-equilibrium dynamics in strongly correlated systems. A multi-region optical trap gives access to non-equilibrium conditions in which separate regions of the trap are initialized in different thermodynamic states. We present the design and characterization of an optical system for implementing a multi-region optical trap. Intersecting a ring-shaped beam with four light sheets creates a three-region trap, which provides a platform for measurements of spin transport in homogeneous gases and across normal-superfluid interfaces. The light sheets form programmable barriers between the trap regions. We generate a ring-shaped beam using an axicon and light sheets using a digital micromirror device (DMD). We discuss the optical resolution of the trapping light, and the use of half-toning to improve the uniformity of the light sheets. In addition, we describe the preparation of a gas of cold lithium-6 atoms in an optical dipole trap for transfer into the multi-region trap.