Fluctuations and flux: The limits of multistate atom lasers

Abstract

The observation and study of classical fluctuations on an atom laser beam were reported. An 87Rb condensate, consisting of approximately 50,000 atoms were produced via evaporation in a water-cooled QUIC magnetic trap. The radio frequency pulses were amplified and radiated perpendicular to the magnetic bias field of the trap through a 22 mm radius single loop. The results show that beyond a critical flux the classical fluctuations on the output beam increase with increasing flux. Show more