All-Optical Generation and Photoassociative Probing of Sodium Bose-Einstein Condensates

Published

May 2, 2006

Author(s)

R Dumke, M Johanning, Eduardo Gomez, J D. Weinstein, Kevin Jones, Paul D. Lett

Abstract

We demonsatrate an all optical technique to evaporatively produce sodium Bose-Einsteincondensates (BEC). We use a crossed-dipole trap formed from light near 1 $\mu$m, and a simple ramp of the intensity to force evaporation. In addition, we introduce photoassociation as diagnostic of the trap loading process, and show that it can be used to detect the onset of Bose-Einstein condensation. Finally, we demonstrate that the production of multiple traps with condensates with this technique is straightforward, and that some control over the spinor state of the BEC is achieved by positioning the trap as well.

Citation

Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

atom optics, Bose-Einstein condensation, laser cooling, optical trapping, photoassociation

Citation

Dumke, R. , Johanning, M. , Gomez, E. , Weinstein, J. , Jones, K. and Lett, P. (2006), All-Optical Generation and Photoassociative Probing of Sodium Bose-Einstein Condensates, Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics) (Accessed October 24, 2025)