Bose-Einstein condensation in a stiff TOP trap with adjustable geometry


Abstract in English

We report on the realisation of a stiff magnetic trap with independently adjustable trap frequencies, $omega_z$ and $omega_r$, in the axial and radial directions respectively. This has been achieved by applying an axial modulation to a Time-averaged Orbiting Potential (TOP) trap. The frequency ratio of the trap, $omega_z / omega_r$, can be decreased continuously from the original TOP trap value of 2.83 down to 1.6. We have transferred a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) into this trap and obtained very good agreement between its observed anisotropic expansion and the hydrodynamic predictions. Our method can be extended to obtain a spherical trapping potential, which has a geometry of particular theoretical interest.

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