This thesis introduces the first demonstration of a monolithic, micro-fabricated,
multi-channel, optical-waveguide chip to measure ultra-cold atomic
clouds. The optics consist of an array of 12 independent junctions, which
are separated by only 10 μm and have large atom-photon coupling. The
integrated and scalable design is presented, along with an atom chip for
mounting the optical waveguide chip and magnetically trapping and handling
ultra-cold atoms. The experimental apparatus which was built to accommodate
this new chip set is described, along with a new experimental
control programme which was developed to accommodate the scalability
requirements of the new chip. The chip was optically, mechanically and
magnetically characterised and cold atoms with densities up to 10-² μm-³,
corresponding to 1 atom at a time inside the waveguide mode, were detected
with this new kind of chip using absorption and fluorescence techniques.
Subsequently, the atoms were utilised to diagnose light polarisation and
intensity within the optical-waveguide chip. For future use, various detection
methods adapted to the optical-waveguide chip were considered to
minimise photon scattering and thus heating of a trapped ultra-cold sample
of atoms.