Time-domain optics for atomic quantum matter

Abstract

We investigate time-domain optics for atomic quantum matter. Within a matter-wave analog of the thin-lens formalism, we study optical lenses of different shapes and refractive powers to precisely control the dispersion of Bose–Einstein condensates. Anharmonicities of the lensing potential are incorporated in the formalism with a decomposition of the center-of-mass motion and expansion of the atoms, allowing to probe the lensing potential with micrometer resolution. By arranging two lenses in time formed by the potentials of an optical dipole trap and an atom-chip trap, we realize a magneto-optical matter-wave telescope. We employ this hybrid telescope to manipulate the expansion and aspect ratio of the ensembles. The experimental results are compared to numerical simulations that involve Gaussian shaped potentials to accommodate lens shapes beyond the harmonic approximation.

Keywords

• Bose–Einstein condensates
• ultra-cold atoms
• matter-wave lensing
• time-domain optics
• optical dipole traps
• atom-chip traps