High-resolution scanning electron microscopy of an ultracold quantum gas
Author: ["Tatjana Gericke","Peter Würtz","Daniel Reitz","Tim Langen","Herwig Ott"]
Publication: Nature Physics
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Abstract
Our knowledge of ultracold quantum gases is strongly influenced by our ability to probe these objects. In situ imaging combined with single-atom sensitivity is an especially appealing scenario, as it can provide direct information on the structure and the correlations of such systems. For a precise characterization a high spatial resolution is mandatory. In particular, the perspective to study quantum gases in optical lattices makes a resolution well below one micrometre highly desirable. Here, we report on a novel microscopy technique, which is based on scanning electron microscopy and allows for the detection of single atoms inside a quantum gas with a spatial resolution of better than 150 nm. We document the great functionality of this technique by precise density measurements of a trapped Bose–Einstein condensate and the first experimental demonstration of single-site addressability in a submicrometre optical lattice. Electron microscopes are regularly used to resolve atoms in solid samples. It turns out that they can also be used to image atoms in a Bose–Einstein condensate—remarkably, without destroying the coherent properties of the condensate.
Cite this article
Gericke, T., Würtz, P., Reitz, D. et al. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy of an ultracold quantum gas. Nature Phys 4, 949–953 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys1102