Magnetic transport apparatus for the production of ultracold atomic gases in the vicinity of a dielectric surface

We present an apparatus designed for studies of atom-surface interactions using quantum degenerate gases of Rb-85 and Rb-87 in the vicinity of a room temperature dielectric surface. The surface to be investigated is a super-polished face of a glass Dove prism mounted in a glass cell under ultra-high vacuum. To maintain excellent optical access to the region surrounding the surface, magnetic transport is used to deliver ultracold atoms from a separate vacuum chamber housing the magneto-optical trap (MOT). We present a detailed description of the vacuum apparatus highlighting the novel design features; a low profile MOT chamber and the inclusion of an obstacle in the transport path. We report the characterization and optimization of the magnetic transport around the obstacle, achieving transport efficiencies of 70% with negligible heating. Finally, we demonstrate the loading of a hybrid optical-magnetic trap with Rb-87 and the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates via forced evaporative cooling close to the dielectric surface. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3676161]