Simple and efficient magnetic transport of cold atoms using moving coils for the production of Bose–Einstein condensation

Abstract

We have developed a simple magnetic transport method for the efficient loading of cold atoms into a magnetic trap. Laser-cooled 87Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are transferred to a quadrupole magnetic trap and they are then transported as far as 50 cm by moving magnetic trap coils with a low excess heating of atoms. A light induced atom desorption technique helps to reduce the collision loss during the magnetic transport. Using this method, we can load cold 87Rb atoms into a magnetic trap in an ultra high vacuum chamber with high efficiency, and we can produce 87Rb condensate atoms.