A Time-Orbiting Potential Trap for Bose-Einstein Condensate Interferometry

We describe a novel atom trap for Bose-Einstein condensates of 87Rb to be used in atom interferometry experiments. The trap is based on a time-orbiting potential waveguide. It supports the atoms against gravity while providing weak confinement to minimize interaction effects. We observe harmonic oscillation frequencies omega_x, omega_y, omega_z as low as 2 pi times (6.0,1.2,3.3) Hz. Up to 2 times 10^4 condensate atoms have been loaded into the trap, at estimated temperatures as low as 850 pK. We anticipate that interferometer measurement times of 1 s or more should be achievable in this device.