Controllable double-well magneto-optic atom trap with a circular current-carrying wire.

Area of Science:

• Atomic Physics
• Magneto-Optic Trapping
• Quantum Control

Background:

• Magneto-optic traps (MOTs) are essential for cooling and trapping neutral atoms.
• Controlling the spatial configuration of trapped atoms is key for advanced atomic physics experiments.
• Existing MOTs often lack the flexibility for dynamic trap manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel, controllable double-well magneto-optic trap (MOT) for neutral atoms.
• To demonstrate the ability to transition the double-well trap into a single-well trap.
• To enable precise control over the number of trapped atoms.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a circular current-carrying wire in conjunction with a biased magnetic field.
• Modulating the current in the wire to alter trap potential.
• Adjusting the bias magnetic field strength to control trap geometry.
• Employing weak intensity approximation for estimation of trapped atom properties.

Main Results:

• A stable double-well MOT configuration is proposed.
• Continuous evolution from a double-well to a single-well trap is achievable by adjusting current or bias field.
• Estimated capacity for approximately 10^6 cold atoms at ~300 K per well.
• Demonstrated tunability of trapped atom numbers via wire current.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MOT offers a controllable platform for neutral atom manipulation.
• This system provides a pathway to dynamic control over trap dimensionality.
• The ability to control atom number and trap configuration opens new possibilities in atomic physics research.