https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-020-00090-8
Research
The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory
1
Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, D-30167, Hannover, Germany
2
Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, D-12489, Berlin, Germany
3
Institut für Mikroelektronische Systeme, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstraße 4, D-30167, Hannover, Germany
4
ZARM, Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm 2, D-28359, Bremen, Germany
5
German Aerospace Center for Space Systems, DLR-RY, Linzerstrasse 1, D-28359, Bremen, Germany
6
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, 91109, Pasadena, CA, USA
7
Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89069, Ulm, Germany
8
Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Söflinger Str. 100, D-89077, Ulm, Germany
9
Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, German Aerospace Center (DLR) c/o Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, D-30167, Hannover, Germany
10
Fierlinger Magnetics GmbH, Rathausplatz 2, D-85748, Garching, Germany
11
Institute for Software Technology, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Lilienthalpl. 7, D-38108, Braunschweig, Germany
12
AG Optical Metrology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstraße 15, D-12489, Berlin, Germany
13
Institut für Laserphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, D-22761, Hamburg, Germany
14
Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, German Aerospace Center (DLR) c/o Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm 9, D-28359, Bremen, Germany
15
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Bates College, 04240, Lewiston, ME, USA
16
Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, D-55128, Mainz, Germany
17
Department of Physics, University of California, 366 LeConte HallMC 7300, 94720-7300, Berkeley, CA, USA
18
Hagler Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering (IQSE), Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, 77843-4242, College Station, TX, USA
19
Airbus Defence and Space, Willy-Messerschmitt-Straße 1, D-82024, Taufkirchen, Germany
20
Space Dynamics Laboratory, 87106, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Received:
13
May
2020
Accepted:
18
December
2020
Published online:
4
January
2021
Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload, motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping, different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.
Key words: Bose-Einstein condensate / Quantum optics / Atom optics / Atom interferometry / Microgravity / International Space Station
© The Author(s) 2020
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
