Direct nondestructive imaging of magnetization in a spin-1 Bose-Einstein gas.

Polarization-dependent phase-contrast imaging is used to resolve the spatial magnetization profile of an optically trapped ultracold gas. This probe is applied to Larmor precession of degenerate and nondegenerate spin-1 87Rb gases. Transverse magnetization of the Bose-Einstein condensate persists for the condensate lifetime, with a spatial response to magnetic field inhomogeneities consistent with a mean-field model of interactions. In comparison, the magnetization of the non-condensed gas decoheres rapidly. Rotational symmetry implies that the Larmor frequency of a spinor condensate be density independent, and thus suitable for precise magnetometry with high spatial resolution.

Bose-Einstein condensates near a microfabricated surface.

Magnetically and optically confined Bose-Einstein condensates were studied near a microfabricated surface. Condensate fragmentation observed in microfabricated magnetic traps was not observed in optical dipole traps at the same location. The measured condensate lifetime was >or=20 s and independent of the atom-surface separation under both magnetic and optical confinement. Radio-frequency spin-flip transitions driven by technical noise were directly observed for optically confined condensates and could limit the condensate lifetime in microfabricated magnetic traps.

Sodium Bose-Einstein condensates in the F = 2 state in a large-volume optical trap.

We have investigated the properties of Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms in the upper hyperfine ground state. Condensates in the high-field seeking [F=2, m(F)=-2> state were created in a large volume optical trap from initially prepared [F=1, m(F)=-1> condensates using a microwave transition at 1.77 GHz. We found condensates in the stretched state [F=2, m(F)=-2> to be stable for several seconds at densities in the range of 10(14) atoms/cm(3). In addition, we studied the clock transition [F=1, m(F)=0> --> [F=2, m(F)=0> in a sodium Bose-Einstein condensate and determined a density-dependent frequency shift of (2.44+/-0.25+/-0.5) x 10(-12) Hz cm(3).

Imprinting vortices in a Bose-Einstein condensate using topological phases.

Vortices were imprinted in a Bose-Einstein condensate using topological phases. Sodium condensates held in a Ioffe-Pritchard magnetic trap were transformed from a nonrotating state to one with quantized circulation by adiabatically inverting the magnetic bias field along the trap axis. Using surface wave spectroscopy, the axial angular momentum per particle of the vortex states was found to be consistent with 2 variant Planck's over 2pi or 4 variant Planck's over 2pi, depending on the hyperfine state of the condensate.

Propagation of Bose-Einstein condensates in a magnetic waveguide.

Gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates of 2-3 x 10(6) 23Na atoms were loaded into a microfabricated magnetic trap using optical tweezers. Subsequently, the condensates were released into a magnetic waveguide and propagated 12 mm. Single-mode propagation was observed along homogeneous segments of the waveguide. Inhomogeneities in the guiding potential arose from geometric deformations of the microfabricated wires and caused strong transverse excitations. Such deformations may restrict the waveguide physics that can be explored with propagating condensates. Finer perturbations to the guiding potential fragmented the condensate when it was brought closer to the surface.

A continuous source of Bose-Einstein condensed atoms.

A continuous source of Bose-Einstein condensed sodium atoms was created by periodically replenishing a condensate held in an optical dipole trap with new condensates delivered using optical tweezers. The source contained more than 1 x 10(6) atoms at all times, raising the possibility of realizing a continuous atom laser.

Transport of Bose-Einstein condensates with optical tweezers.

We have transported gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates over distances up to 44 cm. This was accomplished by trapping the condensate in the focus of an infrared laser and translating the location of the laser focus with controlled acceleration. Condensates of order 10(6) atoms were moved into an auxiliary chamber and loaded into a magnetic trap formed by a Z-shaped wire. This transport technique avoids the optical and mechanical access constraints of conventional condensate experiments and creates many new scientific opportunities.

Realization of Bose-Einstein condensates in lower dimensions.

Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms have been prepared in optical and magnetic traps in which the energy-level spacing in one or two dimensions exceeds the interaction energy between atoms, realizing condensates of lower dimensionality. The crossover into two-dimensional and one-dimensional condensates was observed by a change in aspect ratio and by the release energy converging to a nonzero value when the number of trapped atoms was reduced.

Observation of vortex phase singularities in Bose-Einstein condensates.

We have observed phase singularities due to vortex excitation in Bose-Einstein condensates. Vortices were created by moving a laser beam through a condensate. They were observed as dislocations in the interference fringes formed by the stirred condensate and a second unperturbed condensate. The velocity dependence for vortex excitation and the time scale for re-establishing a uniform phase across the condensate were determined.

Suppression and enhancement of impurity scattering in a Bose-Einstein condensate.

Impurity atoms propagating at variable velocities through a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate were produced using a stimulated Raman transition. The redistribution of momentum by collisions between the impurity atoms and the stationary condensate was observed in a time-of-flight analysis. The collisional cross section was dramatically reduced when the impurity velocity was reduced below the condensate speed of sound, in agreement with the Landau criterion for superfluidity. For large numbers of impurity atoms, we observed an enhancement of atomic collisions due to bosonic stimulation. This enhancement is analogous to optical super-radiance.