Patent ID: 10755831

Abstract:
Atom-scale particles, e.g., neutral and charged atoms and molecules, are pre-cooled, e.g., using magneto-optical traps (MOTs), to below 100 μK to yield cold particles. The cold particles are transported to an atom-chip cell which cools the cold particles to below 1 μK; these particles are stored in a reservoir within the atom-chip cell so that they are readily available to replenish a sensor population of particles in quantum superposition. A baffle is disposed between the MOTs and the atom-chip cell to prevent near-resonant light leaking from the MOTs from entering the atom-chip cell (and exciting the ultra-cold particles in the reservoir). The transporting from the MOTs to the atom-chip cell is effected by moving optical fringes of optical lattices and guiding the cold particles attached to the fringes along a meandering path through the baffle and into the atom-chip cell.