Towards all-optical atom chips based on optical waveguides

Abstract

Coherent guiding of atoms in two-colour evanescent light fields of two fundamental modes of suspended optical rib waveguides is investigated theoretically. Special attention is paid to waveguides of widths larger than the wavelength of light, which provide better lateral stability of the surface traps and waveguides, and can be used in coherent Bragg beam splitters for matter waves, based on optical gratings formed by interference of evanescent light waves of two crossed optical waveguides. A single-mode regime for evanescent-wave waveguides for atoms is investigated. The general structure and key elements of all-optical atom chips are discussed.

Keywords

• atom chips
• atom interferometry
• photonics
• quantum physics