Imaging-based parametric resonance in an optical dipole-atom trap

Abstract

We report sensitive detection of parametric resonances in a high-density sample of ultracold $^{87}\text{R}\text{b}$ atoms confined to a far-off-resonance optical dipole trap. Fluorescence imaging of the expanded ultracold atom cloud after a period of parametric excitation shows significant modification of the atomic spatial distribution and has high sensitivity compared with traditional measurements of parametrically driven trap loss. Using this approach, a significant shift of the parametric resonance frequency is observed and attributed to the anharmonic shape of the dipole trap potential.