State-sensitive, nondestructive imaging of Bose-Einstein condensates

Summary form only given. Following the first observations of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in dilute atomic gases, there has been considerable interest in multiple condensates as a system of interpenetrating quantum fluids. Most recently in our time averaged orbiting potential (TOP) trap, we have created coherent superpositions of condensates in the |F=1, m/sub F/=-1> and |F=2, m/sub F/=1> hyperfine ground states of Rubidium-87. A coupling field connects the states of this two level system. Following evaporative cooling to BEC in the |1,-1> state, a short coupling pulse allows us to transfer an arbitrary proportion of the atoms into the upper |2,1> state. In the first experiments with two component condensates, we have determined the ratio of the intraspecies scattering lengths for the two hyperfine states mentioned above; we have transferred half of the atoms to the upper |2,1> state to investigate the dynamics of the two components separation; and we have found that, in the regions where they overlap, the two condensates retain a well defined phase even after the damping of their relative center of mass motion. To further our studies of double condensates, we have implemented a new, state-sensitive form of nondestructive imaging, a technique first pioneered by Zernike in the field of microscopy, and more recently adapted to the imaging of condensates by the group at MIT. We exploit the state sensitivity of the technique to distinguish the two spin states inside the trap (or, more accurately, to measure their relative density across the cloud).