A Versatile Collider for Ultracold Atoms
Rakonjac, Ana

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Rakonjac, A. (2012). A Versatile Collider for Ultracold Atoms (Thesis, Doctor of Philosophy). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2564
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http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2564
Abstract:
This thesis describes the construction of a dual species setup using fermionic 40K and bosonic 87Rb with the goal of cooling to ultracold temperatures and quantum degeneracy, and also perfoming precision collision experiments using a novel optical collider. The setup is composed of a dual species magneto-optical trap, with transfer to an ultrahigh vacuum science cell achieved using a mechanical transport scheme. Atoms are cooled to ultracold temperatures using forced radio frequency evaporation in a Ioffe-Pritchard style magnetic trap. The optical collider utilises the optical dipole force to trap a sample of ultracold atoms and accelerate them towards a target sample using an acousto-optic modulator. The process of cooling 87Rb atoms in the |F = 2, mF = 2> hyperfine state to Bose-Einstein condensation is described, as well as progress towards production of ultracold 40K. Design, implementation, and characterisation of the optical collider is provided, showing that it is a precision metrology device.
Date:
2012
Advisor:
Kjaergaard, Niels; Andersen, Mikkel; Ballagh, Rob
Degree Name:
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree Discipline:
Physics
Publisher:
University of Otago
Keywords:
physics; bose-einstein condensation; ultracold atoms; collisions; rubidium; potassium
Research Type:
Thesis
Languages:
English
Collections
- Physics [120]
- Thesis - Doctoral [3040]