The Atom Chip:
Bringing Atomic Physics and Quantum Optics on a Chip

Video Interview about Atom Chips (german, 12mb)

Integration and miniaturization has proven to be key to the development of fundamental science into a robust technology. The micro electronic and information revolution is one of the most prominent examples.

Over the last 10 years research groups working on the atom chip set out to develop a similar approach for quantum physics: starting with atomic physics based quantum optics and quantum manipulation. Central to our effort is the AtomChip, a micro fabricated, integrated devices in which electric, magnetic and optical fields can confine, control and manipulate cold atoms.

The Atom Chip combines the best of two worlds: Cold atoms - a well controllable quantum system - with the immense technological capabilities of nanofabrication in microelectronics and micro optics to manipulate quantum states. Through miniaturization, AtomChips offer a versatile new enabling technology for implementing quantum optics, quantum measurement and quantum information processing.

Over the course of years the AtomChip developed from its concept to real laboratory implementation and demonstrated its versatility and capability in diverse science applications, ranging from the use of atomic states as quantum bits to quantum simulation of fundamental issues of low dimensional quantum gases; from microscopic atomic clocks, to a novel magnetic field sensor for surface physics from atom interferometers to the demonstration of phase locking of matter waves.

For information about atom chips and latest research see the following three articles or check our experiment pages (menu on left side of page):

New Paper: Bose-Einstein-Kondensat als Magnetfeldsensor
Review Article (for general audiences): Atom Chips
Review Paper: Microscopic Atom Optics