A misaligned magneto-optical trap to enable miniaturized atom chip systems

Micro-fabricated components for cold atom sensors

Laser cooled atoms have proven transformative for precision metrology, playing a pivotal role in state-of-the-art clocks and interferometers and having the potential to provide a step-change in our modern technological capabilities. To successfully explore their full potential, laser cooling platforms must be translated from the laboratory environment and into portable, compact quantum sensors for deployment in practical applications. This transition requires the amalgamation of a wide range of components and expertise if an unambiguously chip-scale cold atom sensor is to be realized. We present recent developments in cold-atom sensor miniaturization, focusing on key components that enable laser cooling on the chip-scale. The design, fabrication, and impact of the components on sensor scalability and performance will be discussed with an outlook to the next generation of chip-scale cold atom devices.

1200x broadband modal converter using a subwavelength self-focusing structure

Efficient modal interconversion between optical manipulation of cold atoms in free space and transmitted light within an integrated waveguide remains a challenge in the area of integrated atomic photonics. Here, a 1200^x modal converter with a footprint on the order of millimeters is proposed based on a Si₃N₄ subwavelength self-focusing structure. The 2.8µm×1.7µm subwavelength structure enables efficient single modal conversion. The transmission efficiency is 84% at a wavelength of 830 nm with a working bandwidth of 240 nm. The device can work in dual polarization states.