Hybrid 2D surface trap for quantum simulation

We demonstrate the realization of a two-dimensional (2D) quantum gas in a smooth optical surface trap. Using a combination of evanescent wave, standing wave, and magnetic potentials, we create a long-lived quantum gas deep in the 2D regime at a distance of a few microns from a glass surface. To realize a system suitable for many-body quantum simulation, we introduce methods such as broadband "white" light to create evanescent and standing waves to realize a smooth potential with a trap frequency aspect ratio of 300:1:1. We are able to detect phase fluctuations and vortices, and we demonstrate cooling to degeneracy and low disorder in the 2D configuration.