All-Optical Matter-Wave Lens using Time-Averaged Potentials

The stability of matter-wave sensors benefits from interrogating large-particle-number atomic ensembles at high cycle rates. The use of quantum-degenerate gases with low effective temperatures allows constraining systematic errors for highest accuracy. Their production by evaporative cooling, however, is costly with respect to both atom number and cycle rate. We report on the creation of cold rubidium matter waves using versatile time-averaged potentials in a crossed optical dipole trap setup and implement an all-optical matter-wave lens. We demonstrate the trade off between residual kinetic energy and atom number by short-cutting evaporative cooling and estimate the corresponding performance gain in matter-wave sensors. We finally discuss the role of interactions during the matter-wave lens.