Lecture
Atomtronics is a developing field of ultracold atomic physics that encompasses a wide range of questions related to controlled atomic matter waves. Systems typically include components analogous to those of electronic or optical systems, such as beam splitters and transistors. Applications range from studying fundamental physics to developing practical devices.
Atomtronics is a portmanteau of "atom" and "electronics," referring to the creation of atomic analogs of electronic components such as transistors and diodes, as well as electronic materials such as semiconductors. The field itself largely overlaps with atomic optics and quantum simulation and is not strictly limited to the development of electronic components.
An atomtronic circuit requires three main elements. The first is a Bose-Einstein condensate, which is necessary because of its coherent and superfluid properties, although an ultracold Fermi gas can also be used for certain applications. The second is an individually tailored trapping potential, which can be generated optically, magnetically, or using a combination of both. The last element is a method of driving atomic motion within the potential, which can be achieved in several ways. For example, a transistor-like atomtronic circuit can be implemented as a ring trap divided into two parts by two movable weak barriers, with the two separate parts of the ring acting as the drain and source, and the barriers acting as the gate. As the barriers move, atoms flow from the source to the drain. It is now possible to coherently guide matter waves over distances of up to 40 cm in ring-shaped atomtronic matter-wave waveguides.
The field of atomtronics is still very young. Any circuits implemented so far are proofs of concept. Applications include:
Obstacles to developing practical measurement devices are largely related to the technical challenges of creating Bose-Einstein condensates, since they require bulky laboratory setups that are not easily transportable, although creating portable experimental setups is an active area of research.
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