Bose-Einstein condensates in 'giant' toroidal magnetic traps

Authors :: Aidan S. Arnold
Erling Riis
Publication Year :: 2001
Publisher :: arXiv, 2001.
Abstract: The experimental realisation of gaseous Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in 1995 sparked considerable interest in this intriguing quantum fluid. Here we report on progress towards the development of an 87Rb BEC experiment in a large (~10cm diameter) toroidal storage ring. A BEC will be formed at a localised region within the toroidal magnetic trap, from whence it can be launched around the torus. The benefits of the system are many-fold, as it should readily enable detailed investigations of persistent currents, Josephson effects, phase fluctuations and high-precision Sagnac or gravitational interferometry.<br />Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures (Figs. 1 and 2 now work)