Bose-Einstein condensates in 'giant' toroidal magnetic traps

The experimental realization of gaseous Bose—Einstein condensation (BEC) in 1995 sparked considerable interest in this intriguing quantum fluid. Here, progress towards the development of an 87Rb BEC experiment in a large (≈ 10cm diameter) toroidal storage ring is reported. A BEC will be formed at a localized region within the toroidal magnetic trap, from whence it can be launched around the torus. The benefits of the system are manifold, as it should readily enable detailed investigations of persistent currents, Josephson effects, phase fluctuations and high-precision Sagnac or gravitational interferometry.