8-12 July 2013
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
<a href="http://events.saip.org.za/internalPage.py?pageId=13&confId=32"><font color=#ff0000>SAIP2013 PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE</font></a>

Cold Atoms at UKZN

9 Jul 2013, 14:10
20m
Oral Presentation Track C - Photonics Photonics

Speaker

Dr Michael Morrissey (University of KwaZulu NAtal)

Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution

Prof. Francesco Petruccione

Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?

yes

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD)?

N/A

Abstract content <br> &nbsp; (Max 300 words)

Since the concept was first introduced in 1975, laser cooling of atoms has become a very important tool in many fields of physics research. Using the combination of on-resonant laser cooling (to provide a velocity dependant force) and magnetic trapping (to provide a position dependant force) the magneto-optical trap (MOT) allows the routine production of an atomic samples with a large number of atoms (1010 atoms) at an extremely low temperature (< 100 μK). This allows researcher to trap, manipulate and probe cold atoms with relative ease and has lead to many significant contributions to our understanding of atomic and molecular physics, as well as precision metrology.

At UKZN we have one of the very few cold atom setups in the African continent. The focus of this presented will the experimental setup of the existing cold atom experiment in UKZN. This will entail the vacuum, laser, and magnetic field systems used to create the magneto-optical trap. Also presented will by some analysis of the cold atom setup, such as temperature, size, atomic density, as well as the dynamic properties of the system.

Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

No

Primary author

Dr Michael Morrissey (University of KwaZulu NAtal)

Co-authors

Presentation Materials

Peer reviewing

Paper