Miniaturized wire trap for neutral atoms

We demonstrate the loading of a miniaturized magnetic guide for neutral atoms made of small-size current conductors. Cold rubidium atoms are initially stored in a shallow spherical quadrupole field and subsequently transferred into the magnetic guide by gradually transforming the trapping potential. Density, temperature, and atom number have been monitored iii situ by absorption imaging with a charge-coupled device camera. A fraction of 14% of the initially trapped atoms has been transferred into the linear microtrap at a temperature of 39 mu K.