Date of Award
6-13-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Engineering Physics
First Advisor
Glen P. Perram, PhD.
Abstract
Numerous disruptive technologies are being hampered by the insufficient modern methods of cooling electrically neutral atoms and molecules. Microchip-based magnetic deceleration provides a cooling mechanism to slow most neutral atoms and molecules within the cost and size requirements of a real-world device. Simulations of a novel deceleration technique show 90% removal of kinetic energy from an atomic beam. An experiment is built which creates a time-dependent, decelerating magnetic field to slow an atomic beam. An atomic beam is magnetically guided 800 microns above the surface of a microchip at pressures of 10-9 Torr. A 60 independent wire microchip is fabricated, controlling 200 A currents through 150 micron wide wires with a 90% success rate. Flaws are identified and future efforts to correct them are discussed.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENP-13-J-03
DTIC Accession Number
ADA583390
Recommended Citation
Imhof, Eric A., "Chip-Scale Magnetic Source of Cold Atoms" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 931.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/931