The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory

authored by
Kai Frye, Sven Abend, Wolfgang Bartosch, Ahmad Bawamia, Dennis Becker, Holger Blume, Claus Braxmaier, Sheng-Wey Chiow, Maxim A. Efremov, Wolfgang Ertmer, Peter Fierlinger, Tobias Franz, Naceur Gaaloul, Jens Grosse, Christoph Grzeschik, Ortwin Hellmig, Victoria A. Henderson, Waldemar Herr, Ulf Israelsson, James Kohel, Markus Krutzik, Christian Kürbis, Claus Lämmerzahl, Meike List, Daniel Lüdtke, Nathan Lundblad, J. Pierre Marburger, Matthias Meister, Moritz Mihm, Holger Müller, Hauke Müntinga, Ayush M. Nepal, Tim Oberschulte, Alexandros Papakonstantinou, Jaka Perovšek, Achim Peters, Arnau Prat, Ernst M. Rasel, Albert Roura, Matteo Sbroscia, Wolfgang P. Schleich, Christian Schubert, Stephan T. Seidel, Jan Sommer, Christian Spindeldreier, Dan Stamper-Kurn, Benjamin K. Stuhl, Marvin Warner, Thijs Wendrich, André Wenzlawski, Andreas Wicht, Patrick Windpassinger, Nan Yu, Lisa Wörner
Abstract

Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload, motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping, different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.

Organisation(s)
Institute of Quantum Optics
Institute of Microelectronic Systems
QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s)
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut gGmbH, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH)
Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM)
Ulm University
Fierlinger Magnetics GmbH
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Universität Hamburg
Bates College
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
University of California at Berkeley
Space Dynamics Laboratory
California Institute of Caltech (Caltech)
DLR-Institute of Space Systems
DLR-Institute of Quantum Technologies
DLR-Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing
German Aerospace Center (DLR) (e.V.) Location Braunschweig
Texas A and M University
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Type
Article
Journal
EPJ Quantum Technology
Volume
8
No. of pages
37
Publication date
04.01.2021
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Condensed Matter Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Control and Systems Engineering
Electronic version(s)
https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.04849 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-020-00090-8 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.15488/10339 (Access: Open)