Miniaturized lab system for future cold atom experiments in microgravity

摘要

We present the technical realization of a compact system for performingexperiments with cold $^{87}{\text{Rb}}$ and $^{39}{\text{K}}$ atoms inmicrogravity in the future. The whole system fits into a capsule to be used inthe drop tower Bremen. One of the advantages of a microgravity environment islong time evolution of atomic clouds which yields higher sensitivities in atominterferometer measurements. We give a full description of the systemcontaining an experimental chamber with ultra-high vacuum conditions,miniaturized laser systems, a high-power thulium-doped fiber laser, theelectronics and the power management. In a two-stage magneto-optical trap atomsshould be cooled to the low $\mu$K regime. The thulium-doped fiber laser willcreate an optical dipole trap which will allow further cooling to sub-$\mu$Ktemperatures. The presented system fulfills the demanding requirements on sizeand power management for cold atom experiments on a microgravity platform,especially with respect to the use of an optical dipole trap. A first test inmicrogravity, including the creation of a cold Rb ensemble, shows thefunctionality of the system.