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Science 21 June 2002:
Vol. 296. no. 5576, pp. 2155 - 2156
DOI: 10.1126/science.1073984
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Perspectives

ATOM OPTICS:
Continuous Progress on Atom Lasers

Tilman Pfau

Since the first experiments on Bose-Einstein condensates, researchers have tried to use them to make atom lasers. But although pulsed lasers have been demonstrated, continuous atom laser operation has been elusive. In his Perspective, Pfau highlights the report by Chikkatur et al., who have overcome the problem with a conceptually simple but technically challenging apparatus. The challenge now is to develop "high power" atom lasers.

The author is at the Institute of Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany. E-mail: t.pfau{at}physik.uni-stuttgart.de

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)