A Microwave Atom Chip for Spin-Specific Trapping

We present progress towards the development of an atom chip for producing spin-specific trapping potentials via the microwave AC Zeeman (ACZ) effect. These spin-specific potentials have applications in atom interferometry, quantum gates, and 1D many-body physics. Our design employs multiple parallel microstrip transmission lines to produce circularly polarized magnetic fields used for trapping. Additionally, the chip features several wires for traditional DC trapping. Axial confinement is provided by a microwave lattice based on the ACZ or AC Stark effect. A key necessity of this scheme is precisely phase-controlled microwaves, which we accomplish through IQ modulation. ACZ potentials offer the ability to produce a spin-specific trap for neutral atoms, use phase and detuning to control trap parameters, and suppressed potential roughness over DC atom chip traps. To couple broadband microwaves onto the atom chip we have designed a tapered microstrip wedge. We present simulation and prototype work on this coupling scheme.