Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes

In the absence of an external magnetic field, nuclear spin states are degenerate and randomly oriented. When a magnetic field is applied, the spins begin to precess and orient themselves along (lower energy) or against (higher energy) the direction of the field. At equilibrium, a slight excess population of spins exists in the lower energy state. Because the direction of the magnetic field is fixed as the z-axis, the precessing magnetic moments are randomly oriented around the z-axis. This...

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution

Near absolute zero temperatures, in the presence of a magnetic field, the majority of nuclei prefer the lower energy spin-up state to the higher energy spin-down state. As temperatures increase, the energy from thermal collisions distributes the spins more equally between the two states. The Boltzmann distribution equation gives the ratio of the number of spins predicted in the spin −½ (N−) and spin +½ (N+) states.

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Magnetic Moment

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Magnetic Moment

All atomic nuclei are positively charged. When they have a nonzero spin, they behave like rotating charges. As a consequence of their charge and spin, these nuclei generate a magnetic field (B). This, in turn, gives rise to a magnetic moment (μ), which is randomly oriented in the absence of an external magnetic field. When an external magnetic field (B0) is applied, the magnetic moment vectors can align with the field or against it in 2 + 1 orientations. A hydrogen nucleus, which is just a...

Types Of Superconductors

Types Of Superconductors

A superconductor is a substance that offers zero resistance to the electric current when it drops below a critical temperature. Zero resistance is not the only interesting phenomenon as materials reach their transition temperatures. A second effect is the exclusion of magnetic fields. This is known as the Meissner effect. A light, permanent magnet placed over a superconducting sample will levitate in a stable position above the superconductor. High-speed trains that levitate on strong...

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview

NMR-active nuclei have energy levels called 'spin states' that are associated with the orientations of their nuclear magnetic moments. In the absence of a magnetic field, the nuclear magnetic moments are randomly oriented, and the spin states are degenerate. When an external magnetic field is applied, the spin states have only 2 + 1 orientations available to them. A proton with = ½ has two available orientations. Similarly, for a quadrupolar nucleus with a nuclear spin value of one, the...

Nuclear Stability

Nuclear Stability

Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together in the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Geophysical survey based on hybrid gravimetry using relative measurements and an atomic gravimeter as an absolute reference.

Scientific reports·2024

Same author

Quantum frequency conversion using 4-port fiber-pigtailed PPLN module.

Optics express·2023

Same author

ICARUS-Q: Integrated control and readout unit for scalable quantum processors.

The Review of scientific instruments·2022

Same author

Completely scrambled memory for quantum superposition.

Scientific reports·2019

Same author

Polarization insensitive frequency conversion for an atom-photon entanglement distribution via a telecom network.

Nature communications·2018

Same author

Corrigendum: Quantum State Transmission in a Superconducting Charge Qubit-Atom Hybrid.

Scientific reports·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps

Published on: August 17, 2017

Stable neutral atom trap with a thin superconducting disc.

Fujio Shimizu¹, Christoph Hufnagel, Tetsuya Mukai

¹NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1, Morinosato-Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan.

Physical Review Letters

|April 7, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers demonstrate a stable magnetic quadrupole trap for neutral atoms using a superconducting niobium disc. This trap, stable above a critical temperature, utilizes vortex magnetic fields and an external uniform field for trapping neutral atoms.

More Related Videos

Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving

Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving

Published on: March 30, 2017

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh

Preparing an Isotopically Pure ²²⁹Th Ion Beam for Studies of ^229mTh

Published on: May 3, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps

Published on: August 17, 2017

Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving

Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving

Published on: March 30, 2017

Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh

Preparing an Isotopically Pure ²²⁹Th Ion Beam for Studies of ^229mTh

Published on: May 3, 2019

Area of Science:

Physics
Materials Science
Quantum Technology

Background:

Superconducting materials offer unique magnetic properties.
Vortices in superconductors can generate localized magnetic fields.
Trapping neutral atoms is crucial for quantum computing and precision measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate a stable magnetic quadrupole trap for neutral atoms.
To investigate the role of vortices and temperature on trap stability.
To explore the potential of superconducting thin films for atom trapping applications.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a superconducting niobium (Nb) thin-film disc.
Introduction of magnetic vortices by cooling in a finite magnetic field.
Application of an oppositely directed uniform magnetic field.
Characterization of trap stability at different temperatures relative to the dendritic instability temperature T(a).

Main Results:

A stable magnetic quadrupole trap was successfully demonstrated on the Nb disc.
Trap stability was maintained above the dendritic instability temperature T(a).
Below T(a), changes in field intensity caused trap collapse due to vortex field instability.
Vortex density stabilized at an equilibrium above T(a) but diminished below it.

Conclusions:

Superconducting thin-film discs can create stable magnetic quadrupole traps for neutral atoms.
Trap stability is critically dependent on operating temperature relative to the dendritic instability temperature.
The demonstrated method offers a novel approach for neutral atom manipulation in quantum technologies.