Fast manipulation of a quantum gas on an atom chip with a strong microwave field

Abstract

We report on an experimental platform based on an atom chip encompassing a coplanar waveguide which enables the manipulation of a quantum gas of sodium atoms with strong microwave fields. We describe the production with this setup of a very elongated degenerate quantum gas with typically 10^6 atoms, that can be prepared all along the cross-over from the three-dimensional to the one-dimensional regime, depending on the atom number and trapping geometry. Using the microwave field radiated by the waveguide, we drive Rabi oscillations between the hyperfine ground states, with the atoms trapped at various distances from the waveguide. At the closest position explored, the field amplitude exceeds 5 G, corresponding to a Rabi frequency on the strongest transition larger than 6 MHz. This enables fast manipulation of the atomic internal state.