Development of cold-atom sources for quantum technologies

这个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。我们基于一种新颖的（专利的）磁光阱设计开发了一种紧凑的冷铷原子源，我们正在与一家位于苏格兰的激光公司（M Squared激光器）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，开发一种紧凑的激光冷却锶原子源。锶需要一种与铷截然不同的方法，将实验方法发展成一个强大而可靠的系统是主要任务。我们预计对冷锶的需求将相当大，因为它们对于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）以及超冷分子和量子气体的更基本的研究工作是必要的。总之，锶在量子技术上有相当大的优势，但由于需要更复杂的设备，它还没有像铷那样得到广泛的应用。该项目将解决技术问题，并将通过建立一个物质波干涉仪来演示冷原子源。与其他研究团队合作，展示其他应用是可能的。该项目属于EPSRC量子器件组件和系统主题

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