Highly versatile atomic micro traps generated by multifrequency magnetic field modulation

Abstract

We propose the realization of custom-designed adiabatic potentials for cold\natoms based on multimode radio frequency radiation in combination with static\ninhomogeneous magnetic fields. For example, the use of radio frequency combs\ngives rise to periodic potentials acting as gratings for cold atoms. In strong\nmagnetic field gradients the lattice constant can be well below 1 micrometer.\nBy changing the frequencies of the comb in time the gratings can easily be\npropagated in space, which may prove useful for Bragg scattering atomic matter\nwaves. Furthermore, almost arbitrarily shaped potential are possible such as\ndisordered potentials on a scale of several 100 nm or lattices with a spatially\nvarying lattice constant. The potentials can be made state selective and, in\nthe case of atomic mixtures, also species selective. This opens new\nperspectives for generating tailored quantum systems based on ultra cold single\natoms or degenerate atomic and molecular quantum gases.\n