Development of cold-atom sources for quantum technologies

该项目适合那些对开发将应用于实际设备的新仪器感兴趣的人。我们基于一种新的(获得专利的)磁光陷阱设计开发了一种紧凑型冷Rb原子源，我们正在与苏格兰的一家激光公司(M Squared Laser)合作将这项工作商业化。在这个项目中，我们将与该公司和其他感兴趣的各方合作，开发一种激光冷却锶原子的紧凑源。锶需要一种与锶有很大不同的方法，将实验方法发展成一个强大而可靠的系统是主要任务。我们预计将有相当大的需求冷锶来源，因为它们是使用光学晶格中的原子的时钟(锶时钟目前是世界领先的技术)、物质波干涉仪(其中一种锶同位素非常适合)，以及更多关于超古老分子和量子气体的基础研究工作。总而言之，锶在量子技术方面有相当大的优势，但由于它需要更复杂的仪器，(目前)还没有像锶那样被广泛使用。该项目将解决这些技术问题，并将通过建造物质波干涉仪来演示冷原子源。与其他研究团队合作演示其他应用也是可能的。该项目属于EPSRC量子设备组件和系统主题

This project is suitable for those with an interest in developing new apparatus that will be applied to practical devices. We have developed a compact source of cold rubidium atoms based on a novel (patented) design of magneto-optical trap and we are collaborating with a laser company based in Scotland (M Squared Lasers) to commercialise this work. In this project we will develop a compact source of laser-cooled strontium atoms working with that company and other interested parties. Strontium requires a considerably different approach to that used for rubidium and developing the experimental methods into a robust and reliable system is the primary task.We anticipate that there will be considerable demand for sources of cold strontium since they are necessary for clocks that use atoms in optical lattices (strontium clocks are currently the world-leading technology), matter-wave interferometers (for which one of the strontium isotopes is very suitable), as well as more fundamental research work on ultracold molecules and quantum gases. In summary, strontium has considerable advantages for quantum technology but it is not (yet) used so widely as rubidium because it requires more complicated apparatus. The technical issues will be addressed in this project and the cold-atom source will be demonstrated by building a matter-wave interferometer. Collaborations with other research teams to demonstrate other applications are likely. This project falls under the EPSRC Quantum devices components and systems theme