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Experiments with Supersonic Beams as a Source of Cold Atoms

Experiments with Supersonic Beams as a Source of Cold Atoms

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4.1.3. In an anti-Helmholtz trap, the trapping field vanishes at the center <strong>of</strong> the trap.<br />

This means that the Larmor frequency also goes to zero and thus the atoms cannot<br />

follow changes in the field direction. The radius from the trap center where atoms<br />

<strong>of</strong> a particular velocity cannot follow the field and undergo spin flips is derived in<br />

[104]. For the trapping fields described above, the calculated radius <strong>of</strong> spin flits is<br />

≈ 3 μm for 100 m/s hydrogen atoms. Most <strong>of</strong> the atoms in the trap are slower than<br />

100 m/s, and the radius for spin flips will be even smaller for slower atoms. Such a<br />

small radius, even for the f<strong>as</strong>test atoms, means that spin flips are not expected to be<br />

a significant source <strong>of</strong> trap loss.<br />

5.2.2.3 Trapping Electronics and Switching<br />

Due to the requirements <strong>of</strong> the experiment, each trapping coil must be able to<br />

have current flow in either direction. In addition, the polarity <strong>of</strong> the current in one<br />

coil must be independent <strong>of</strong> the polarity or state <strong>of</strong> the other coil. Each coil needs<br />

to be able to be switched on or <strong>of</strong>f independent <strong>of</strong> the state <strong>of</strong> the other coil <strong>as</strong> well.<br />

F<strong>as</strong>t switching times are required, because the loading <strong>of</strong> the trap depends on using<br />

the front coil <strong>as</strong> the final coilgun coil and on switching this coil back on quickly to<br />

confine the atoms in the trap. It is desireable to have the coils operating in series,<br />

rather than in parallel to ensure that both coils operate at the same current, locating<br />

the trap center in the middle <strong>of</strong> the trapping volume. It also means that any current<br />

noise will appear in both coils, rather than just one. This avoids heating <strong>of</strong> the atoms<br />

due to an induced motion <strong>of</strong> the trap center.<br />

A schematic <strong>of</strong> the circuit constructed to fulfill these requirements is shown<br />

in figure 5.10 and a photograph <strong>of</strong> the circuit is presented in figure 5.11. Each coil<br />

is switched using an H-bridge configuration <strong>of</strong> discrete metal-oxide-semiconductor<br />

field-effect transistors (MOSFET). Each MOSFET shown in the figure represents a<br />

130

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