Microchip traps and Bose-Einstein condensation

Abstract

The article gives an overview of the rapidly evolving field of magnetic microchip traps (also called 'atom chips') for neutral atoms. Special attention is given to Bose-Einstein condensation in such traps, to the particular properties of microchip trap potentials, and to practical considerations in their design. Scaling laws are developed, which lead to an estimate of the ultimate confinement that chip traps can provide. Future applications such as integrated atom interferometers are discussed.