Moving-frame imaging of transiting cold atoms for precise long-range transport

Abstract

Transporting cold atoms between interconnected vacuum chambers is an important technique for increasing the versatility of cold atom setups, particularly for those that couple atoms to photonic devices. In this report, we introduce a method where we are able to image the atoms at all points during transport via moving optical dipole trap. Cooled 87Rb atoms are transported ∼50 cm into an auxiliary vacuum chamber while being monitored with a moving-frame imaging system for which in-situ characterization of the atom transport is demonstrated. Precise positioning of the atoms near photonic devices is also tested across several tapered fibers showing an axial positioning resolution of ∼450 μm.