Tutorial: Current controllers for optimizing laser cooling on cold atom experiments

The design of single chip current source based on a common power operational amplifier is presented and demonstrated for the purpose of controlling applied magnetic fields using bias/shim electromagnets in cold atom experiments. The efficacy of the design is realized via application to red-detuned polarization-gradient cooling of ⁸⁷Rb down to 3 μK. Further, we demonstrate Raman spectroscopy using these devices to apply current and so generate a precise, accurate, and reproducible magnetic field. This work is intended as a short tutorial for new graduate students and postdocs of laser cooling and trapping.