Heidelberg 2015 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 4: Ultra-cold atoms, ions and BEC I (with Q)

A 4.8: Talk

Monday, March 23, 2015, 16:15–16:30, C/HSW

High resolution ion microscopy of cold atoms — •Markus Stecker, Hannah Schefzyk, Peter Federsel, Andreas Günther, and József Fortágh — Physikalisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, Germany

We develop a novel quantum gas microscope based on ionization of atoms and high resolution ion optics. The system allows for a magnification up to 1000 and a spatial resolution below the optical diffraction limit. The detection method enables continuous real time observation of trapped quantum gases with single atom sensitivity and high temporal and spatial resolution. In such a system, local statistics like temporal and spatial correlations could be studied as well as global cloud properties and dynamical processes.

We present the ion optics setup and the corresponding simulations, which reveal the principal limits of the system in terms of magnification and resolution. Furthermore, we show the first experimental realization. The current ionization scheme uses a 480nm laser to ionize directly out of a magneto-optically trapped cloud of atoms. In order to experimentally characterize the imaging quality, we imprint test patterns with the ionization laser onto the MOT. This data is used to verify the simulations and find the experimentally achievable resolution limits.