End-to-end cold-atom and UHV system architecture optimized for stability, scalability, and autonomous long-term operation.
The platform follows a linear cold-atom beam architecture, separating atom generation, slowing, trapping, and science regions into distinct vacuum, magnetic, and thermal domains.
This separation enables precise pressure control, predictable magnetic field profiles, and high optical accessibility, while maintaining high atomic flux and long trap lifetimes.
Pressure targets are defined by collision-limited trap lifetime requirements rather than nominal pumping speed alone.
Long narrow tubes and apertures provide multi-order-of-magnitude pressure drops between regions while preserving atomic beam transmission.
Non-Evaporable Getter (NEG) pumps provide vibration-free, local pumping directly at critical vacuum regions.
NEG activation at 400–500 °C yields effective pumping speeds of tens to hundreds of liters per second, significantly reducing reliance on large ion pumps.
Bakeout minimizes water adsorption and hydrocarbon contamination, accelerating recovery to UHV conditions.
Controlled cooldown and NEG activation enable rapid transition to XHV-ready conditions, improving trap lifetime and experimental repeatability.
Atoms are generated in a thermally controlled source, collimated and transversely cooled in the 2D MOT, and injected into the Zeeman slower with a well-defined velocity distribution.
Spatially varying magnetic fields compensate Doppler shifts along the slowing path, maintaining resonant interaction with the slowing laser over the full deceleration length.
Coil geometries and current profiles are optimized to achieve smooth, monotonic magnetic field gradients, minimizing transverse forces and beam divergence.
Heat sources from ovens and coils are thermally isolated from sensitive vacuum and optical components, reducing drift during long-term operation.
Optical ports and viewports are arranged to support flexible beam geometries, polarization control, and future experimental extensions.
Standard CF interfaces allow individual modules to be replaced or upgraded without redesigning the full system.