Interaction effects on atomic laboratory trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We discuss the effect of inter-atoms interactions on the condensation temperature T _c of an atomic laboratory trapped Bose-Einstein condensate. We show that, in the mean-field Hartree-Fock and semiclassical approximations, interactions produce a shift Δ T _c /T _c ⁰ ≈ b ₁(a/λ _{T c} ) + b ₂(a/λ _{T c} )² + ψ[a / λ _{T c} ] with a the s-wave scattering length, λ _T the thermal wavelength and ψ[a / λ _{T c} ] a non-analytic function such that ψ[0] = ψ′[0] = ψ′′[0] = 0 and |ψ′′′[0]| = ∞. Therefore, with no more assumptions than Hartree-Fock and semiclassical approximations, interaction effecs are perturbative to second order in a / λ _{T c} and the expected non-perturbativity of physical quantities at critical temperature appears only to third order. We compare this finding with different results by other authors, which are based on more than the Hartree-Fock and semiclassical approximations. Moreover, we obtain an analytical estimation for b ₂ ? 18.8 which improves a previous numerical result. We also discuss how the discrepancy between b ₂ and the empirical value of b ₂ = 46 ± 5 may be explained with no need to resort to beyond-mean field effects.     

Bright solitary waves of trapped atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

Motivated by recent experimental observations, we study theoretically multiple bright solitary waves of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates. Through variational and numerical analyses, we determine the threshold for collapse of these states. Under π-phase differences between adjacent waves, we show that the experimental states lie consistently at the threshold for collapse, where the corresponding in-phase states are highly unstable. Following the observation of two long-lived solitary waves in a trap, we perform detailed three-dimensional simulations which confirm that in-phase waves undergo collapse while a π-phase difference preserves the long-lived dynamics and gives excellent quantitative agreement with experiment. Furthermore, intermediate phase differences lead to the growth of population asymmetries between the waves, which ultimately triggers collapse.     

Bright soliton trains of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We variationally determine the dynamics of bright soliton trains composed of harmonically trapped Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interatomic interactions. In particular, we obtain the interaction potential between two solitons. We also discuss the formation of soliton trains due to the quantum mechanical phase fluctuations of a one-dimensional condensate.     

Quadrupole collective modes in trapped finite-temperature Bose-Einstein condensates

Finite-temperature simulations are used to study quadrupole excitations of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate. We focus specifically on the m = 0 mode, where a long-standing theoretical problem is to account for an anomalous variation of the mode frequency with temperature. We explain this behavior in terms of the excitation of two separate modes, corresponding to the coupled motion of the condensate and the thermal cloud. The relative amplitude of the modes depends sensitively on the temperature and on the frequency of the harmonic drive used to excite them. Good agreement with experiment is found for appropriate drive frequencies.     

Vortex formation by merging of multiple trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We report observations of vortex formation by merging and interfering multiple (87)Rb Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in a confining potential. In this experiment, a single harmonic potential well is partitioned into three sections by a barrier, enabling the simultaneous formation of three independent, uncorrelated BECs. The BECs may either automatically merge together during their growth, or for high-energy barriers, the BECs can be merged together by barrier removal after their formation. Either process may instigate vortex formation in the resulting BEC, depending on the initially indeterminate relative phases of the condensates and the merging rate.     

Inhibiting three-body recombination in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

We discuss the possibility of inhibiting three-body recombination in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates via the application of resonant 2pi laser pulses. These pulses result in the periodic change in the phase of the molecular state by pi, which leads to destructive interference between the decay amplitudes following successive pulses. We show that the decay rate can be reduced by several orders of magnitude under realistic conditions.     

Bose-Einstein condensates and Efimov states in trapped many-boson systems

We investigate trapped cold Bose gases using the stochastic variational approach with realistic attractive finite-range two-body interactions. We study the properties of the Bose-Einstein condensates, particularly in the large scattering-length regime, and establish the existence of meta-stable many-body Efimov states.     

Quantum superchemistry: dynamical quantum effects in coupled atomic and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates

We show that in certain parameter regimes there is a macroscopic dynamical breakdown of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Stochastic field equations for coupled atomic and molecular condensates are derived using the functional positive- P representation. These equations describe the full quantum state of the coupled condensates and include the commonly used Gross-Pitaevskii equation as the noiseless limit. The full quantum theory includes the spontaneous processes which will become significant when the atomic population is low. The experimental signature of the quantum effects will be the time scale of the revival of the atomic population after a near total conversion to the molecular condensate.     

Controlled vortex-sound interactions in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

The low temperature dynamics of a vortex in a trapped quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate are studied quantitatively. Precession of an off-centered vortex in a dimple trap, embedded in a weaker harmonic trap, leads to the emission of sound in a dipolar radiation pattern. Sound emission and reabsorption can be controlled by varying the depth of the dimple. In a shallow dimple, the power emitted is proportional to the vortex acceleration-squared over the precession frequency, whereas for a deep dimple, periodic sound reabsorption stabilizes the vortex against radiation-induced decay.     

有效质量法调控原子玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体的双阱动力学

操控原子玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体在双势阱中的动力学通常是通过改变势阱深度来实现,本文提出了一种基于调节原子有效质量的控制方案,可以在不改变双阱势的前提下操控凝聚体的双阱动力学.利用双模近似,本文解析地导出了超冷原子在双阱势中的隧穿强度和相互作用强度对有效质量的依赖关系,并基于平均场近似数值模拟了在有效质量调节下的凝聚体动力学演化,展示了隧穿振荡和自束缚等典型的双阱动力学行为.此外,本文的研究还发现,借助负有效质量效应,这一方案甚至可以等效地实现对负散射长度原子凝聚体双阱动力学行为的操控.     

Creating macroscopic atomic Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen states from Bose-Einstein condensates

We present a scheme for creating quantum entangled atomic states through the coherent spin-exchange collision of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate. The state generated possesses macroscopic Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlation and the fluctuation in one of its quasispin components vanishes. We show that an elongated condensate with large aspect ratio is most suitable for creating such a state.     

Kelvin waves of quantized vortex lines in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We have theoretically investigated Kelvin waves of quantized vortex lines in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates. Counterrotating perturbation induces an elliptical instability to the initially straight vortex line, driven by a parametric resonance between a quadrupole mode and a pair of Kelvin modes of opposite momenta. Subsequently, Kelvin waves rapidly decay to longer wavelengths emitting sound waves in the process. We present a modified Kelvin wave dispersion relation for trapped superfluids and propose a simple method to excite Kelvin waves of specific wave number.     

Giant vortex phase transition in rapidly rotating trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

A Bose-Einstein condensate of cold atoms is a superfluid and thus responds to rotation of its container by the nucleation of quantized vortices. If the trapping potential is sufficiently strong, there is no theoretical limit to the rotation frequency one can impose to the fluid, and several phase transitions characterized by the number and distribution of vortices occur when it is increased from 0 to ∞. In this note we focus on a regime of very large rotation velocity where vortices disappear from the bulk of the fluid, gathering in a central hole of low matter density induced by the centrifugal force.     

Nonlocal quantum effects with Bose-Einstein condensates

We study theoretically the properties of two Bose-Einstein condensates in different spin states, represented by a double Fock state. Individual measurements of the spins of the particles are performed in transverse directions, giving access to the relative phase of the condensates. Initially, this phase is completely undefined, and the first measurements provide random results. But a fixed value of this phase rapidly emerges under the effect of the successive quantum measurements, giving rise to a quasiclassical situation where all spins have parallel transverse orientations. If the number of measurements reaches its maximum (the number of particles), quantum effects show up again, giving rise to violations of Bell type inequalities. The violation of Bell-Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequalities with an arbitrarily large number of spins may be comparable (or even equal) to that obtained with two spins.     

Parametric driving of dark solitons in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

A dark soliton oscillating in an elongated harmonically confined atomic Bose-Einstein condensate continuously exchanges energy with the sound field. Periodic optical paddles are employed to controllably enhance the sound density and transfer energy to the soliton, analogous to parametric driving. In the absence of damping, the amplitude of the soliton oscillations can be dramatically reduced, whereas with damping, a driven soliton equilibrates as a stable soliton with lower energy, thereby extending the soliton lifetime up to the lifetime of the condensate.     

Observation of spinor dynamics in optically trapped 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensates

We measure spin mixing of F=1 and F=2 spinor condensates of 87Rb atoms confined in an optical trap. We determine the spin mixing time to be typically less than 600 ms and observe spin population oscillations. The equilibrium spin configuration in the F=1 manifold is measured for different magnetic fields and found to show ferromagnetic behavior for low field gradients. An F=2 condensate is created by microwave excitation from the F=1 manifold, and this spin-2 condensate is observed to decay exponentially with time constant 250 ms. Despite the short lifetime in the F=2 manifold, spin mixing of the condensate is observed within 50 ms.     

Mean field loops versus quantum anti-crossing nets in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We study a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in an asymmetric double well potential. Solutions of the time-independent Gross-Pitaevskii equation reveal intrinsic loops in the energy (or chemical potential) level behavior when the shape of the potential is varied. We investigate the corresponding behavior of the quantum (many-body) energy levels. Applying the two-mode approximation to the bosonic field operators, we show that the quantum energy levels create an anti-crossing net inside the region bounded by the loop of the mean field solution. Received 6 March 2002 / Received in final form 19 September 2002 Published online 15 November 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: smerzi@cnls.lanl.gov