[Historical report created from GSU BEC Homepage:]

"On 19th July at the University of Sussex we observed Bose-Einstein condensation of ⁸⁷Rb atoms in a surface microtrap. Our atom chip consists of a single longitudinal wire embedded in the surface of a gold mirror and four transverse wires which provide axial confinement. The chip (see figure below) was made in collaboration with the Optoelectronics Research Centre in Southampton.

We collect 10⁸ atoms in a reflection MOT formed above the atom chip and load 2 x 10⁷ atoms into the magnetic trap. The trap is compressed to final frequencies of ω_r = 2π x 830 s^-1 and ω_z = 2π x 24 s^-1 and we evaporate by a logarithmic RF sweep from 13 MHz to 585 KHz in 12.5 seconds. The condensate forms 200 microns above the surface (T_c = 320 nK, 12,000 condensed atoms), and we image the cloud expanding in one-dimension along the guide 8 ms after turning off the axial confinement. The images above show the BEC forming at around 590 kHz.

People involved:

• Matt Jones (Sussex)
• Chris Vale (Sussex)
• Ed Hinds (Sussex)
• Kentaro Furusawa (Southampton)

For further information, contact: Chris Vale. "

We've moved!

Updated: 17 Oct 2005

We are now located at Imperial College, London.