The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory

authored by: Kai Frye, Sven Abend, Wolfgang Bartosch, Ahmad Bawamia, Dennis Becker, Holger Blume, Claus Braxmaier, Sheng-Wey Chiow, Maxim A. Efremov, Wolfgang Ertmer, Peter Fierlinger, Tobias Franz, Naceur Gaaloul, Jens Grosse, Christoph Grzeschik, Ortwin Hellmig, Victoria A. Henderson, Waldemar Herr, Ulf Israelsson, James Kohel, Markus Krutzik, Christian Kürbis, Claus Lämmerzahl, Meike List, Daniel Lüdtke, Nathan Lundblad, J. Pierre Marburger, Matthias Meister, Moritz Mihm, Holger Müller, Hauke Müntinga, Ayush M. Nepal, Tim Oberschulte, Alexandros Papakonstantinou, Jaka Perovšek, Achim Peters, Arnau Prat, Ernst M. Rasel, Albert Roura, Matteo Sbroscia, Wolfgang P. Schleich, Christian Schubert, Stephan T. Seidel, Jan Sommer, Christian Spindeldreier, Dan Stamper-Kurn, Benjamin K. Stuhl, Marvin Warner, Thijs Wendrich, André Wenzlawski, Andreas Wicht, Patrick Windpassinger, Nan Yu, Lisa Wörner
Abstract: Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload, motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping, different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.
Organisation(s): Institute of Quantum Optics
Institute of Microelectronic Systems
QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s): Ferdinand-Braun-Institut gGmbH, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH)
Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM)
Ulm University
Fierlinger Magnetics GmbH
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Universität Hamburg
Bates College
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
University of California at Berkeley
Space Dynamics Laboratory
California Institute of Caltech (Caltech)
DLR-Institute of Space Systems
DLR-Institute of Quantum Technologies
DLR-Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing
German Aerospace Center (DLR) (e.V.) Location Braunschweig
Texas A and M University
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Type: Article
Journal: EPJ Quantum Technology
Volume: 8
No. of pages: 37
Publication date: 04.01.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Condensed Matter Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Control and Systems Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.04849 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-020-00090-8 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.15488/10339 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{2172090c0c24479683803b39118cda07,
title = "The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory",
abstract = "Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload, motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping, different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.",
keywords = "physics.atom-ph, cond-mat.quant-gas, Atom interferometry, Atom optics, Quantum optics, International Space Station, Microgravity, Bose-Einstein condensate",
author = "Kai Frye and Sven Abend and Wolfgang Bartosch and Ahmad Bawamia and Dennis Becker and Holger Blume and Claus Braxmaier and Sheng-Wey Chiow and Efremov, {Maxim A.} and Wolfgang Ertmer and Peter Fierlinger and Tobias Franz and Naceur Gaaloul and Jens Grosse and Christoph Grzeschik and Ortwin Hellmig and Henderson, {Victoria A.} and Waldemar Herr and Ulf Israelsson and James Kohel and Markus Krutzik and Christian K{\"u}rbis and Claus L{\"a}mmerzahl and Meike List and Daniel L{\"u}dtke and Nathan Lundblad and Marburger, {J. Pierre} and Matthias Meister and Moritz Mihm and Holger M{\"u}ller and Hauke M{\"u}ntinga and Nepal, {Ayush M.} and Tim Oberschulte and Alexandros Papakonstantinou and Jaka Perov{\v s}ek and Achim Peters and Arnau Prat and Rasel, {Ernst M.} and Albert Roura and Matteo Sbroscia and Schleich, {Wolfgang P.} and Christian Schubert and Seidel, {Stephan T.} and Jan Sommer and Christian Spindeldreier and Dan Stamper-Kurn and Stuhl, {Benjamin K.} and Marvin Warner and Thijs Wendrich and Andr{\'e} Wenzlawski and Andreas Wicht and Patrick Windpassinger and Nan Yu and Lisa W{\"o}rner",
note = "The herein described project is a bilateral collaboration between NASA and DLR, both contributing to the scientific and operational organization. This work is supported by the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under Grant Nos. DLR50WP1431-1435, 50WM1131-1137, 50MW0940, 50WM1240, 50WM1556, 50WP1700-1706, 50WP1806, 50WP1836, 50WM1861, 50WM1955, 50WM1956, 50RK1957, 50WM2060, by “Nieders{\"a}chsisches Vorab” through the “Quantum- and Nano-Metrology (QUANOMET)” initiative within the project QT3, through the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany{\textquoteright}s Excellence Strategy – EXC 2123 QuantumFrontiers, Project-ID 390837967, and through “F{\"o}rderung von Wissenschaft und Technik in Forschung und Lehre” for the initial funding of research in the new DLR Institutes (DLR-SI and DLR-QT). MAE thanks the Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST) for financial support. The project was carried out in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NM0018D0004). The team acknowledges the contributions from NASA and their aid in adapting the payload to the needs of the International Space Station. We especially acknowledge the contributions from NASA Headquarters, Glenn Research Center, and Johnson Space Center. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.",
year = "2021",
month = jan,
day = "4",
doi = "10.1140/epjqt/s40507-020-00090-8",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
journal = "EPJ Quantum Technology",
issn = "2196-0763",
publisher = "SpringerOpen",
number = "1",
}