Generation and Manipulation of Bose-Einstein Condensates in Space
Hosted By: Optical Cooling and Trapping Technical Group
16 April 2021 9:00 - 10:00
Eastern Time (US & Canada) (UTC -05:00)Join the Optical Cooling and Trapping Technical Group for a webinar with Maike Lachmann on the generation and manipulation of Bose-Einstein condensates in space. In the recent years, much progress has been made in the field of quantum sensing towards precision measurements. In particular, atom interferometers based on ultracold ensembles are a promising method for tests of fundamental physics, geodetic measurements and the detection of gravitational waves.
Space displays a great potential for advancing high-precision atom interferometry due to the long free evolution times in the interferometer, the reduced kinematics of the source and the reduction of external noise sources. During the sounding rocket mission MAIUS-1 we created the first Bose-Einstein condensate in space. The macroscopic coherence of the Rubidium ensemble has been demonstrated using atom interferometry. The studies of the source as well as the technological developments will be presented and discussed in the webinar.
With the follow-up missions, MAIUS-2 and -3 we intend to add potassium as a second species and aim for mixture studies as well as sequential and simultaneous two-species atom interferometry. These missions pave the way for future space missions like the BECCAL collaboration between NASA and DLR, which has the goal to develop and operate such a device on the international space station (ISS).
Subject Matter Level:
- Intermediate - Assumes basic knowledge of the topic
What You Will Learn:
- Cooling, trapping and manipulation of atomic gases in a microgravity environment
- Applications of atom interferometry for fundamental physics tests in space
- Development of compact and robust systems for Bose-Einstein condensation and atom optics
Who Should Attend:
- Undergrads, PhD Students, PostDocs, researchers with interest in atomic physics, cold atom instrument development and space missions
- Researchers developing compact and robust vacuum technology, laser technology, electronics
About the Presenter: Maike Lachmann, Leibniz University of Hannover
Dr. Maike D. Lachmann is a scientific researcher at the Leibniz University of Hannover working on atom-optical experiments in microgravity environments. During her PhD she already participated in the sounding rocket mission MAIUS-1 demonstrating BEC creation and matter-wave interferences in space for the first time. Currently, she is the scientific lead for the upcoming two space missions that plan to perform dual-species atom interferometry on-board a sounding rocket.
