Abstract
Micro- and increasingly, nano-fabrication have enabled the miniaturization of atomic devices, from vapor cells to atom chips for Bose-Einstein condensation. Here we present microfabricated planar devices for thermal atomic beams. Etched microchannels were used to create highly collimated, continuous rubidium atom beams traveling parallel to a silicon wafer surface. Precise, lithographic definition of the guiding channels allowed for shaping and tailoring the velocity distributions in ways not possible using conventional machining. Multiple miniature beams with individually prescribed geometries were created, including collimated, focusing and diverging outputs. A “cascaded” collimator was realized with 40 times greater purity than conventional collimators. These localized, miniature atom beam sources can be a valuable resource for a number of quantum technologies, including atom interferometers, clocks, Rydberg atoms, and hybrid atom-nanophotonic systems, as well as enabling controlled studies of atom-surface interactions at the nanometer scale.
Highlights
Micro- and increasingly, nano-fabrication have enabled the miniaturization of atomic devices, from vapor cells to atom chips for Bose-Einstein condensation
Microfabrication is increasingly making its mark on atomic physics, from atom chips for Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC)[1,2] to hybrid atom-MEMS systems[3] and miniature alkali vapor cell clocks and magnetometers[4,5]
We inject rubidium atoms directly onto a silicon chip at the source, which eliminates much of the complexity associated with free space transport of atoms to the surface from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) or BEC
Summary
Micro- and increasingly, nano-fabrication have enabled the miniaturization of atomic devices, from vapor cells to atom chips for Bose-Einstein condensation. A “cascaded” collimator was realized with 40 times greater purity than conventional collimators These localized, miniature atom beam sources can be a valuable resource for a number of quantum technologies, including atom interferometers, clocks, Rydberg atoms, and hybrid atom-nanophotonic systems, as well as enabling controlled studies of atom-surface interactions at the nanometer scale. Beam deceleration and/or cooling, atom interaction with surfaces or other quantum sensing protocols such as atom interferometry, followed by atom detection can all be performed using elements fabricated directly onto the chip surface This approach enables the integration of required heaters and other control electronics, and provides a pathway to mass manufacture of atomic devices. This demonstration of a microfabricated planar device for thermal atomic beams is the first step toward a fully planar continuous atomic beam sensor
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