The Laser-Cooled Atoms Group at Creighton University studies quantum mechanics using ultracold potassium atoms. Shown here is a close-up of the potassium 3D MOT and vacuum chamber. The gas of potassium atoms shown as the bright dot in the picture is trapped using the force of light and kept at temperatures of about 1 part in 10,000 above absolute zero. The pressure in the chamber is 1 part in 1014 of atmospheric pressure. We are currently working to achieve a Bose-Einstein condensate.
