糖心TV

ULTRACOLD ATOMS INTERACTING WITH MAGNETIC SURFACES

For the last 20 years it has become routine to cool alkali-metal atoms to microKelvin temperatures (typical speeds ~1 cm/s) using a variety of optical techniques. Light beams tuned close to an atomic resonance provide the very strong frictional forces required to slow atoms from room temperature (typical speeds ~500 m/s). However, once the atoms are cold, the relatively weak conservative forces of magnetic fields play an important role. The talk will summarise the physics of laser cooling, give an overview of techniques and devices for magnetic atom manipulation, and discuss the potential of mobile atom traps using magnetic nanowires.