Observation of Bose-Einstein condensates in an Earth-orbiting research lab.

Nature
D C AvelineRobert J Thompson

Abstract

Quantum mechanics governs the microscopic world, where low mass and momentum reveal a natural wave-particle duality. Magnifying quantum behaviour to macroscopic scales is a major strength of the technique of cooling and trapping atomic gases, in which low momentum is engineered through extremely low temperatures. Advances in this field have achieved such precise control over atomic systems that gravity, often negligible when considering individual atoms, has emerged as a substantial obstacle. In particular, although weaker trapping fields would allow access to lower temperatures1,2, gravity empties atom traps that are too weak. Additionally, inertial sensors based on cold atoms could reach better sensitivities if the free-fall time of the atoms after release from the trap could be made longer3. Planetary orbit, specifically the condition of perpetual free-fall, offers to lift cold-atom studies beyond such terrestrial limitations. Here we report production of rubidium Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in an Earth-orbiting research laboratory, the Cold Atom Lab. We observe subnanokelvin BECs in weak trapping potentials with free-expansion times extending beyond one second, providing an initial demonstration of the advantages offer...Continue Reading

References

Sep 13, 2003·Science·A E LeanhardtW Ketterle
Jun 19, 2010·Science·T van ZoestJ Reichel
Mar 19, 2013·Physical Review Letters·H MüntingaE M Rasel
Apr 25, 2015·Physical Review Letters·Tim KovachyMark A Kasevich
Dec 25, 2015·Nature·T KovachyM A Kasevich
Dec 13, 2016·Nature Communications·Brynle BarrettPhilippe Bouyer
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Oct 20, 2018·Nature·Dennis BeckerErnst M Rasel
Dec 10, 2019·NPJ Microgravity·N LundbladD C Aveline
Jan 11, 2020·Physical Review Letters·G CondonA Landragin

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Citations

Jun 13, 2020·Nature·Maike D Lachmann, Ernst M Rasel
Jul 18, 2020·Physical Review Letters·A TononiL Salasnich
Feb 28, 2021·Nature Communications·Maike D LachmannErnst M Rasel
May 15, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Saurabh PandeyWolf von Klitzing

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