NIST physicists have developed a highly directional atom laser using a Bose-Einstein condensate, a significant advancement from the first atom laser demonstrated in 1997. The NIST atom laser streams atoms forward in a chosen direction as a very narrow beam, unlike earlier versions which were affected by gravity and had a wider spread.
The atom laser was created from a gaseous Bose-Einstein condensate, an exotic form of matter first achieved in 1995. Scientists trapped sodium atoms in a magnetic field and cooled them to extremely low temperatures, causing them to Bose condense. Two optical lasers were aimed at the condensate, transferring momentum to the atoms and giving them a kick in the direction of one laser beam.
The NIST atom laser represents a significant step toward practical applications, with potential uses in lithography, novel gyroscopes, and atom interferometers. The scientists anticipate that better, more intense atom lasers could become important scientific and practical tools in the future.
Keywords: Laser, Bose-Einstein, Condensate, Photon, Momentum
