An atom laser is a device that produces a coherent beam of atoms, analogous to how a conventional laser produces a coherent beam of light. The concept of an atom laser is rooted in the principles of quantum mechanics, particularly the phenomena of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC).
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An atom laser produces a coherent output of matter waves, often by extracting atoms from a Bose-Einstein condensate. Unlike an optical laser, its output consists of massive atoms and responds strongly to gravity and atomic interactions.
In the demonstrated radio-frequency output-coupling method, a pulse transfers part of a trapped condensate into an untrapped magnetic substate. The released atoms leave the trap while retaining coherence associated with the condensate. Varying the pulse controls the extracted fraction. The experiment makes the analogy with a laser concrete, while an output coupler alone does not imply that the reservoir is continuously replenished.[ref]