Kapitza Trap for Ultracold Atoms

We report on the experimental realization of a Kapitza trap for ultracold atoms. Using time-periodic attractive and repulsive Gaussian potentials, we create an effective trap for ultracold neutral atoms in a regime where the time average of the potential is equal to zero. We analyze the role of experimental imperfections, the stability of the trapped atomic cloud, and the magnitude of the effective potential. We find good agreement with the high-frequency expansion of the underlying system dynamics. Our experimental approach opens up new possibilities to study Floquet systems of neutral atoms.

Automated summary

We report the experimental realization of a Kapitza trap for ultracold atoms. This is achieved by using time-periodic attractive and repulsive Gaussian potentials, creating an effective trap with a time average potential of zero. The analysis includes the impact of experimental imperfections, stability of the trapped atomic cloud, and magnitude of the effective potential. The results show good agreement with the high-frequency expansion of the underlying system dynamics. This experimental approach opens up new opportunities to study Floquet systems of neutral atoms.