Bose – Einstein condensation in a magnetic double - well potential

We present the first experimental realization of Bose–Einstein condensation in a purely magnetic double-well potential. This has been achieved by combining a static Ioffe–Pritchard trap with a time orbiting potential. The double trap can be rapidly switched to a single-harmonic trap of identical oscillation frequencies, thus accelerating the two condensates towards each other. Furthermore, we show that time-averaged potentials can be used as a means to control the radial confinement of the atoms. Manipulation of the radial confinement allows vortices and radial quadrupole oscillations to be excited.