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Adaptive reflection and focusing of Bose-Einstein condensates

A. S. Arnold, C. MacCormick, M. G. Boshier

cond-mat.softarXiv:cond-mat/0306188

Abstract

We report adjustable magnetic `bouncing' and focusing of a dilute 87Rb Bose gas. Both the condensate production and manipulation are realised using a particularly straight-forward apparatus. The bouncing region is comprised of approximately concentric ellipsoidal magnetic equipotentials with a centre that can be adjusted vertically. We extend, and discuss the limitations of, simple Thomas-Fermi and Monte-Carlo theoretical models for the bouncing, which at present find close agreement with the condensate's evolution. Very strong focusing has been inferred and the observation of atomic matter-wave diffraction should be possible. Prospects look bright for applications in matter-wave atom-optics, due to the very smooth nature of the mirror.

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