Compact, microchip-based systems for practical applications of ultracold atoms

Abstract

We present a set of building blocks for constructing and utilizing compact, microchip-based, ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) chambers for the practical deployment of cold- and ultracold-atom systems. We present two examples of chip-compatible approaches for miniaturizing UHV chambers--double-magneto-optical-trap cells and channel cells--as well as compact, free-space optical systems into which these cells can be easily inserted and quickly swapped. We discuss progress in atom chip technology, including miniature through-chip electrical feedthroughs and optical windows for transferring light between the trapping region on the chip and the ambient environment. As an example of the latter, we present some of the first through-chip fluorescence images of a Bose---Einstein condensate. High numerical apertures can be achieved with this technique, allowing for submicron resolution. Whether for optical detection, trapping, or control, such fine resolution will have numerous applications in quantum information, especially for experiments based on ultracold atoms trapped in optical lattices.