The Bose-Einstein Condensate Laboratory

The Bose–Einstein Condensate Laboratory explores the fundamental physics and applications of ultracold degenerate atomic systems based at the University of Queensland, Brisbane.

Representing the coldest physical systems ever observed, atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are among the cleanest, most flexible, precisely controllable, and isolated quantum many-body systems available. We operate two different apparatuses in our lab that provide complimentary capabilities: 

• Scalar apparatus: This machine is built around a small glass vacuum cell which allows high-resolution patterning of arbitrary time-dependent potentials and imaging of resulting atom configurations. In this apparatus we are currently pursuing experiments in quantum turbulence, quantum thermodynamics and sensing. These experiments are conducted with ⁸⁷Rb, but we aim to implement a second species, ⁴¹K, in the near future.
• Spinor apparatus: This BEC apparatus utilises three different spin substates of ⁸⁷Rb. Through projecting arbitrary potentials on the atoms, we can deterministically create spin defects on demand. The high degree of control allows us to accurately study spin interactions, as well as quantum turbulence of mixed spin systems and quantum sensing.

Our research focuses on the applications of ultracold atomic systems. These include problems of fundamental physics interest, such as quantum turbulence, quantum thermodynamics, and exotic spin defects, but also includes application oriented research, such as quantum sensing and using superfluid transport for future atomtronic devices. In collaboration with theorists within EQUS and UQ, we are investigating the dynamics of non-equilibrium BECs in configured and time varying optical traps.