Developing and building an absorption imaging system for Ultracold Atoms

In this report I attempt to outline the process of developing and building an absorption imaging system capable of imaging ultracold atoms. In the theory section I will discuss the elements required to estimate the atom number and derive the equations required to determine the temperature of the atom cloud. I will outline the general features of a microscopic - two lens imaging setup via the principles of geometric optics. A discussion of optical design process and its features will be carried out with an example on absorption imaging. The essence of basic optical design process will be given.