Gillen, J. I.Bakr, W. S.Peng, A.Unterwaditzer, P.Fölling, S.Greiner, Markus2012-01-202009Gillen J. I., W. S. Bakr, A. Peng, P. Unterwaditzer, S. Fölling, and Markus Greiner. 2009. Two-dimensional quantum gas in a hybrid surface trap. Physical Review A 80(2): 021602.1050-29471094-1622http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:7983348We demonstrate the realization of a two-dimensional (2D) quantum gas in a smooth optical surface trap. Using a combination of evanescent wave, standing wave, and magnetic potentials, we create a long-lived quantum gas deep in the 2D regime at a distance of a few microns from a glass surface. To realize a system suitable for many-body quantum simulation, we introduce methods such as broadband “white” light to create evanescent and standing waves to realize a smooth potential with a trap frequency aspect ratio of 300:1:1. We are able to detect phase fluctuations and vortices, and we demonstrate cooling to degeneracy and low disorder in the 2D configuration.en-USother condensed matterJournal Article10.1103/PhysRevA.80.021602