| AVS 65th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Division | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session NS+AN+EM+MN+MP+RM-TuM |
| Session: | Nanophotonics, Plasmonics, and Metamaterials |
| Presenter: | Stephen Eckel, National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Authors: | S. Eckel, National Institute of Standards and Technology D.S. Barker, National Institute of Standards and Technology J.A. Fedchak, National Institute of Standards and Technology N.N. Klimov, National Institute of Standards and Technology E. Norrgard, National Institute of Standards and Technology J. Scherschligt, National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
In this talk, I will describe our recent efforts to merge nanophotonics, ultra-high vacuum, and atomic physics together to build a new generation of cold atom sensors and standards. In particular, I will focus on our recent realization of a single-beam system for cooling lithium atoms, an atomic species recently identified as an excellent candidate for a primary vacuum standard. Our system uses a triangular-shaped nanofabricated diffraction grating to produce the necessary beams for a magneto-optical trap that cools and slows the atoms. Unlike systems that use rubidium or cesium, which can be loaded from a vapor, lithium introduces additional complications because it must be produce from a thermal source requiring loading of the magneto-optical trap from behind the chip. Finally, I will conclude by talking about other trap geometries that we are pursuing, how they benefit vacuum and inertial sensors, and what the synergy of integrated nanophotonics, high-vacuum and atomic physics might be able to bring.