Waveguide for Bose-Einstein condensates - art. no. 031602

We report on the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates of Rb-87 in a specia lly designed hybrid, optical dipole and magnetic trap. This trap naturally allows the coherent transfer of matter waves into a pure optical dipole pot ential waveguide based on a doughnut beam. Specifically, we present studies of the coherence of the ensemble in the hybrid trap and during the evoluti on in the waveguide by means of an autocorrelation interferometer scheme. W e observe a mean-field dominated acceleration in the waveguide on a much lo nger time scale than in the free three-dimensional expansion.