Feasibility of studying vortex noise in two-dimensional superconductors with cold atoms

We investigate the feasibility of using ultracold neutral atoms trapped near a thin superconductor to study vortex noise close to the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Berezinskii transition temperature. Alkali atoms such as rubidium probe the magnetic field produced by the vortices. We show that the relaxation time T-1 of the Zeeman sublevel populations can be conveniently adjusted to provide long observation times. We also show that the transverse relaxation times T-2 for Zeeman coherences are ideal for studying the vortex noise. We briefly consider the motion of atom clouds held close to the surface as a method for monitoring the vortex motion.