Thesis Committee: John E. Thomas, Daniel J. Gauthier and M.
Ronen Plesser
ABSTRACT:
This thesis outlines the preliminary construction of an improved
experimental apparatus dedicated to the investigation of ultra-cold
fermions. Our research aims to discover the new physics in the
interaction between fermions, the fundamental building blocks of all
matter. The central component of this project is the design,
construction and testing of a more compact and efficient slowing
apparatus, the Zeeman Slower. This multi-coil solenoid allows us to
slow 6Li atoms from 1500 m/s to 20 m/s at which point the
Fermi gas is trapped and studied.
The improved slower is 30 cm long, utilizes only two
power supplies and does not require water-cooling. It is more compact
and has proven simpler to construct and maintain than the previous
slower design and is capable of slowing an adequate number of atoms for
our experiment. This document describes the motivation for the new
design, as well as the construction and testing of the improved slowing
apparatus.
Here is the thesis in PDF: Kaldre_thesis.pdf (about 2.68 MBytes)