title: Absorption imaging of ultracold atoms on atom chips.
abstract: Imaging ultracold atomic gases close to surfaces is an important tool for the detailed analysis of experiments carried out using atom chips. We describe the critical factors that need be considered, especially when the imaging beam is purposely reflected from the surface. In particular we present methods to measure the atom-surface distance, which is a prerequisite for magnetic field imaging and studies of atom surface-interactions.
authors.affiliation: Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hofferberth
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gring
authors.forename: Mauritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wildermuth
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schumm
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmiedmayer
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical
chemical_list: D005740:Gases