Magnetically trapped atoms in the vicinity of an optical nanofibre.

Magnetically trapped 87Rb atoms have been observed near a single-mode optical nanofbre. Approximately 1 × 106 atoms were optically pumped to the F = 2, mF = 2⟩ state and held in the trap with a trap lifetime of up to 2 s. The temperature of the atomic sample within the magnetic trap was measured to be below 230 μK. The compact vacuum system and hightemperature fbre feedthroughs are presented, and the feasibility of creating a quantum degenerate gas of ultracold neutral atoms near an optical nanofbre is discussed