Department or Program
Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
With the recent production of Bose-Einstein condensates using NASA's Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) aboard the International Space Station, research is underway focusing on the extent to which quantum mechanics can be studied in a microgravity environment. These condensates have the potential to be the coldest ever studied in experiment and in free-fall their place in orbit allows us to observe them in long time-of-flights. This thesis reports fitting analyses and trap frequency characterization of imaging data from condensates in conventional magnetic potentials. This information will be used for the calibration and design of future experiments with CAL, regarding both conventional and radio-frequency dressed traps. Of particular interest to further study are ellipsoidal shell condensates and the quasi-two-dimensional condensate that exists on its surface in the limit of low shell thickness.
Level of Access
Restricted: Embargoed [Open Access After Expiration]
First Advisor
Lundblad, Nathan
Date of Graduation
5-2019
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Recommended Citation
Gold, Maxwell Jeremy, "Characterization of Trap Frequencies for Cold Atom Laboratory Bose-Einstein Condensates" (2019). Honors Theses. 288.
https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/288
Number of Pages
66
Components of Thesis
One PDF file.