Bose-Einstein Condensation of Atoms in a Uniform Potential

We have observed the Bose-Einstein condensation of an atomic gas in the (quasi)uniform three-dimensional potential of an optical box trap. Condensation is seen in the bimodal momentum distribution and the anisotropic time-of-flight expansion of the condensate. The critical temperature agrees with the theoretical prediction for a uniform Bose gas. The momentum distribution of a noncondensed quantum-degenerate gas is also clearly distinct from the conventional case of a harmonically trapped sample and close to the expected distribution in a uniform system. We confirm the coherence of our condensate in a matter-wave interference experiment. Our experiments open many new possibilities for fundamental studies of…

• DA
  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Award: EP/G026823/1
• AF
  Air Force Office of Scientific Research
• AR
  Army Research Office