Preparation of atomic Fock states by trap reduction

ArXiv identifier: 

arXiv:0901.4529

Speakers: 

Adolfo del Campo

Authors: 

Marisa Pons, Adolfo del Campo, J. Gonzalo Muga, Mark G. Raizen

We describe the preparation of atom-number states with strongly interacting bosons in one dimension, or spin-polarized fermions. The procedure is based on a combination of weakening and squeezing of the trapping potential. For the resulting state, the full atom number distribution is obtained. Starting with an unknown number of particles Ni, we optimize the sudden change in the trapping potential which leads to the Fock state of Nf particles in the final trap. Non-zero temperature effects as well as different smooth trapping potentials are analyzed. A simple criterion is provided to ensure the robust preparation of the Fock state for physically realistic traps.