Bose-Einstein-condensation and prospects for precision measurements

Summary form only given, as follows.Summary form only given. In the past year, within a few months, three groups have independently succeeded in demonstrating Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in a gas of alkali atoms. Our initial experiments, on BEC in sodium, were done in an optically plugged spherical quadrupole trap. Since then, we have developed a dc electromagnetic trap, demonstrated BEC in this trap, and observed light-scattering off the condensate in this trap. The trap is stable, easy to operate, and provides excellent confinement, which is important for efficient and fast production of Bose condensates. These properties are necessary for a detailed study of BEC, and for possible applications of Bose-condensed atoms. In this presentation our results to date will be reviewed. In addition, we will discuss some of the prospects for using Bose condensed atoms for precision measurements.