2019年3月，全球第一臺商業(yè)化激光冷原子捕獲操控系統(tǒng)，在歐洲約瑟夫史蒂芬研究所量子計算實驗室順利安裝。隨后的兩周內(nèi)，研究人員利用這套系統(tǒng)成功進行了一系列冷原子操控實驗測試，包括低于1uK的原子捕獲操控，nK級玻色-愛因斯坦凝聚（BEC）捕獲操控，以及陣列捕獲操控，獲得了理想的實驗結(jié)果。用戶對此非常滿意，認為這套系統(tǒng)極大提高了實驗效率和研究進程！

CALM系統(tǒng)是一個用于冷原子捕獲實驗的全自動光鑷系統(tǒng)。它具有強大的擴展性，可與系統(tǒng)外設(shè)備進行同步控制并獲取數(shù)據(jù)，能夠與實驗室現(xiàn)有裝置（樣品腔、光學(xué)平臺等）完美結(jié)合。該系統(tǒng)由三個單元組成：

CALM系統(tǒng)脫胎于廣受贊譽的Tweez300系列高速多光阱納米光鑷與測力平臺。Twee系列光鑷已經(jīng)有十幾年的歷史，其穩(wěn)定，可靠，性能優(yōu)越，為Aresis在光力捕獲與操控領(lǐng)域贏得了極高的聲譽。

• 16 Clouds

• sigma_v3

• Clouds dance

我們用CALM系統(tǒng)演示了原子云俘獲，對處于μK，甚至nK范圍內(nèi)（即玻色-愛因斯坦凝聚）的原子云進行了有效地捕獲與操控。實驗結(jié)果證明原子云的陣列捕獲可通過CALM系統(tǒng)輕松實現(xiàn)，視頻展示了原子云的動態(tài)二維操作。任意二維靜態(tài)或動態(tài)陣列也可以很容易地制作。

The Greek letter sigma representing the logo of the Jo?ef Stefan Institute.

Welcome to the website of the Slovenian cold atom lab. In 2016, we achieved the first Bose-Einstein condensation in South-Eastern Europe.

BEC is a state of coupled bosonic atoms at a temperature near absolute zero. Under these conditions, a large fraction of the atoms occupy the lowest quantum state, while the quantum nature of atoms is manifested in the form of superfluidity. The superfluidity is a macroscopic phenomenon where the material behaves as a quantum fluid that flows without viscosity and is analogous to the phenomenon of superconductivity in solids. Because of this analogy the BEC can be used as a quantum simulator of solid state physics, e.g., to study superconductivity and, in more general, to explore the physics of strongly correlated electrons.

Using lasers and magnetooptical trap the cesium atoms in the ultrahigh vacuum are first slowed down and caught, and thus cooled to the temperature range of several hundred μK. In the next step, by means of Raman transitions, the cesium atoms end up in one of the well-defined low-lying energy states and the temperature falls below 1 μK. At the same time the atoms are caught in the so-called optical trap by a set of extremely powerful laser beams. The atoms are further cooled by evaporation, which lowers the temperature to the range of nK, which is low enough for the atoms to condense.

We established a few research guidelines, potential avenues for future research, where cold atoms will be used as an experimental method.

Experiments on the optical lattice: Atomic quantum gases in optical lattices are becoming the main simulating tool for solid state physics systems. Atoms play the role of electrons in solids, while their motion through the lattice can be well controlled. Using optical lattices one can explore the physics of strongly correlated electrons, which leads to superconductivity and magnetism. With the proper choice of optical lattice geometry it is also possible to explore frustrated magnetic systems, where theory predicts exotic ground states, such as the spin liquid.

Atomic magnetometry: The quantum technologies based on cold atoms have an enormous potential for innovation both on a fundamental level and in real-world applications such as quantum-based sensors for gravity, acceleration, rotation and magnetic fields. We are planning to develop a high-resolution cold-atom magnetometer with a potential to be used in various fields, including a signal detection in NMR and MRI, as well as NQR, control of magnetic fields in precise experiments, such as in atomic physics or direct measurement of magnetic fields from the heart and brain.

Synthetic fields: Although the atoms are charge neutral, one can use laser light and magnetic field gradients to create effective scalar and vector potentials, which play the role of electric and magnetic forces on the atoms. Thus it is possible to simulate quantum phenomena known from solid state physics, e.g. the quantum Hall effect.

Nonequilibrium dynamics: While the physics of equilibrium phenomena is fairly well known and accepted, the physics of nonequilibrium phenomena is far less explored, is much less intuitive and it can lead to new findings, which might have far-reaching implications for general science, including the social sciences and economics. Because of their flexibility, cold atoms provide exceptional laboratory for the study of nonequilibrium phenomena.