Eur. Phys. J. D 51, 247-259 (2009)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2008-00261-5

Superconducting atom chips: advantages and challenges

¹ Ilse Katz Center for Meso- and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
² Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
³ Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a Carsten.Henkel@physik.uni-potsdam.de

Received: 21 July 2008
Revised: 12 November 2008
Published online: 20 December 2008

Abstract

Superconductors are considered in view of applications to atom chip devices. The main features of magnetic traps based on superconducting wires in the Meissner and mixed states are discussed. The former state may mainly be interesting for improved atom optics, while in the latter, cold atoms may provide a probe of superconductor phenomena. The properties of a magnetic side guide based on a single superconducting strip wire placed in an external magnetic field are calculated analytically and numerically. In the mixed state of type II superconductors, inhomogeneous trapped magnetic flux, relaxation processes and noise caused by vortex motion are posing specific challenges for atom trapping.