BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION IN A QUADRUPOLE-IOFFE-CONFIGURATION TRAP

We demonstrate Bose-Einstein condensation of rubidium atoms in a simpl e low-power magnetic trap. This trap combines the quadrupole with the Ioffe configuration (QUIC trap) and consists of just three coils. Magn eto-optically trapped Rb-87 atoms are first loaded into the linear tra pping potential of a magnetic quadrupole, which is then converted into the parabolic geometry of an Ioffe trap. During this process two sphe rical quadrupole traps with perpendicular axes merge and the trapped a tomic cloud moves close to the magnetic field producing coils, resulti ng in tight confinement of the atoms while the power dissipation of th e trap remains low. The magnetically trapped atoms are cooled to below the phase transition of Bose-Einstein condensation by rf-induced evap oration. [S1050-2947(98)51210-3].