Surface Effects on a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Magnetic Microtrap

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Abstract
We have investigated Bose-Einstein condensates and ultra cold atoms in the vicinity of a surface. The atoms are prepared in a magnetic microtrap at distances to the surface between 300 $\mu$m and 20 $\mu$m. In this range, the lifetime decreases from 20 s to 0.7 s showing a linear dependence on the distance to the surface. The atoms manifest a weak thermal coupling to the surface. The measured heating rates remain below 500 nK/s. In addition, we observe a periodic fragmentation of the condensate along its major axis when the surface is approached.

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