Versatile apparatus for ultracold atomic hybrid systems

• Author / Creator

  Tretiakov, Andrei

• In modern quantum technology, different quantum systems have properties that make them effective for some tasks and less beneficial for others. Integrating these systems together into a single quantum hybrid system, exploiting the advantages of each systems strengths while suppressing their disadvantages, can advance the total performance. On-chip quantum hybrid systems coupled to an ensemble of ultracold atoms show a great potential for advancing quantum technology, because they combine the long coherence time of the atomic ensemble with access to conventional read-out techniques provided by the chip. This thesis presents an apparatus that we have built to carry out experiments with coupling ultracold 87Rb gases to various systems, including nanomechanics and optical cavities. The apparatus operates at ultra-high vacuum conditions, required for experiments with ultracold gases, and its design allows us to easily and quickly switch between different on-chip devices to perform and study quantum hybridization with ultracold gases. Such versatility is provided by separating the region where the ultracold gas is created from the location of the chip, and implementing a system which can optically transfer the atoms between these two regions. In this work we also describe atom cooling techniques used in this experiment, including magneto-optical trapping, sub-Doppler cooling in optical molasses and evaporative cooling. These methods have demonstrated cooling to temperatures below 100 uK. We also discuss a setup for optimal optical-dipole transport. Finally, we theoretically consider magnetic coupling between atoms and nanomechanical oscillators and propose using the Landau-Zener transitions as a method for reducing or measuring mechanical temperature of the resonators, and to create quantum entanglement between multiple devices.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Quantum hybrid systems
  • Ultracold gases

• Graduation date

  Spring 2017

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R30V89V89

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.