Date of Award

Spring 5-20-2024

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Physics

Department

Physics

Advisor

Maren Mossman

Abstract

At temperatures near absolute zero, bosons form a macroscopic quantum state that can be manipulated and imaged in a very controlled and tunable way. To reach these extreme temperatures near absolute zero, advanced methods in cooling, including laser and evaporative cooling, must be used. In addition to these techniques for cooling, atoms must also be held up against the constant pull of gravity, so additional trapping techniques using lasers and magnets are used. In our lab at University of San Diego, we are implementing a tunable lens system (TLS) to optically transfer atoms to a more optically accessible location. A tunable lens (TL) is a lens where the curvature of the lens can be adjusted through an applied electrical current, thus translating where the focus of a lens is in a controlled way. This research aims to discover the optimal setup for a TLS to be used in the transportation of ultracold atoms in our system. In this research, I will report on the building of the TLS within the lab and the adjustment of various systems pertaining to the TL.

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