Spin coupling between cold atoms and the thermal fluctuations of a metal surface

Jones, M.P.A.; Vale, C.J.; Sahagun, D.; Hall, B.V.; Hinds, E.A.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.91.080401

Spin coupling between cold atoms and the thermal fluctuations of a metal surface

Jones, M.P.A.; Vale, C.J.; Sahagun, D.; Hall, B.V.; Hinds, E.A.

Authors

Professor Matthew Jones m.p.a.jones@durham.ac.uk
Professor

C.J. Vale

D. Sahagun

B.V. Hall

E.A. Hinds

Abstract

We describe an experiment in which Bose-Einstein condensates and cold atom clouds are held by a microscopic magnetic trap near a room-temperature metal wire 500 m in diameter. The lifetime for atoms to remain in the microtrap is measured over a range of distances down to 27 m from the surface of the metal.We observe the loss of atoms from the microtrap due to spin flips. These are induced by radio-frequency thermal fluctuations of the magnetic field near the surface, as predicted but not previously observed.

Citation

Jones, M., Vale, C., Sahagun, D., Hall, B., & Hinds, E. (2003). Spin coupling between cold atoms and the thermal fluctuations of a metal surface. Physical Review Letters, 91(8), https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.91.080401

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Aug 18, 2003
Deposit Date	Oct 6, 2008
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Print ISSN	0031-9007
Electronic ISSN	1079-7114
Publisher	American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	91
Issue	8
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.91.080401
Keywords	Guiding neutral atoms, Traps, Optics, Wires, Chip.