Arbitrary frequency stabilization of a diode laser based on visual Labview PID VI and sound card output

We report a robust method of directly stabilizing a grating feedback diode laser to an arbitrary frequency in a large range. The error signal, induced from the difference between the frequency measured by a wavelength meter and the preset target frequency, is fed back to the piezoelectric transducer module of the diode laser via a sound card in the computer. A visual Labview procedure is developed to realize a feedback system. In our experiment the frequency drift of the diode laser is reduced to 8 MHz within 25 min. The robust scheme can be adapted to realize the arbitrary frequency stabilization for many other kinds of lasers.

Superfluid to Mott-insulator transition in a one-dimensional optical lattice

Bose–Einstein condensates(BEC)of sodium atoms are transferred into one-dimensional(1D)optical lattice potentials,formed by two laser beams with a wavelength of 1064 nm,in a shallow optical trap.The phase coherence of the condensate in the lattice potential is studied by changing the lattice depth.A qualitative change in behavior of the BEC is observed at a lattice depth of~13.7Er,where the quantum gas undergoes a transition from a superfluid state to a state that lacks well-to-well phase coherence.

Efficient loading of ultracold sodium atoms in an optical dipole trap from a high power fiber laser

We report on a research of the loading of ultracold sodium atoms in an optical dipole trap,generated by two beams from a high power fiber laser.The effects of optical trap light power on atomic number,temperature and phase space density are experimentally investigated.A simple theory is proposed and it is in good accordance with the experimental results of the loaded atomic numbers.In a general estimation,an optimal value for each beam with a power of 9 W from the fiber laser is achieved.Our results provide a further understanding of the loading process of optical dipole trap and laid the foundation for generation of a sodium Bose–Einstein condensation with an optical dipole trap.

Spin current in a spinor Bose–Einstein condensate induced by a gradient magnetic field

We develop a research of spin currents in a^(23)Na spinor Bose–Einstein condensate(BEC)by applying a magnetic field gradient.The spin current is successfully induced by the spin-dependent force arising from the magnetic field gradient.The dynamics of the spin components under the magnetic force is investigated.The study is promising to be extended to produce a longer spin-coherence and to enhance the sensitivity of the spin-mixing interferometry in a spinor BEC.