Guided atom laser: a new tool for guided atom optics

Abstract

We present a guided atom laser. A Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is created in a crossed hybrid magnetic and an elongated optical trap, which acts as a matterwave guide. Atoms are extracted from the BEC by radio frequency (rf) outcoupling and then guided in the horizontal optical matterwave guide. This method allows to control the acceleration of the beam and to achieve large de Broglie wavelength. We also measure the longitudinal energy of the guided atom laser using atom optical elements based on a blue light barrier.