1,436 research outputs found
Correlations and Counting Statistics of an Atom Laser
We demonstrate time-resolved counting of single atoms extracted from a weakly
interacting Bose-Einstein condensate of Rb atoms. The atoms are detected
with a high-finesse optical cavity and single atom transits are identified. An
atom laser beam is formed by continuously output coupling atoms from the
Bose-Einstein condensate. We investigate the full counting statistics of this
beam and measure its second order correlation function in a
Hanbury Brown and Twiss type experiment. For the monoenergetic atom laser we
observe a constant correlation function and an atom
number distribution close to a Poissonian statistics. A pseudo-thermal atomic
beam shows a bunching behavior and a Bose distributed counting statistics
Cold atoms in cavity-generated dynamical optical potentials
We review state-of-the-art theory and experiment of the motion of cold and
ultracold atoms coupled to the radiation field within a high-finesse optical
resonator in the dispersive regime of the atom-field interaction with small
internal excitation. The optical dipole force on the atoms together with the
back-action of atomic motion onto the light field gives rise to a complex
nonlinear coupled dynamics. As the resonator constitutes an open driven and
damped system, the dynamics is non-conservative and in general enables cooling
and confining the motion of polarizable particles. In addition, the emitted
cavity field allows for real-time monitoring of the particle's position with
minimal perturbation up to sub-wavelength accuracy. For many-body systems, the
resonator field mediates controllable long-range atom-atom interactions, which
set the stage for collective phenomena. Besides correlated motion of distant
particles, one finds critical behavior and non-equilibrium phase transitions
between states of different atomic order in conjunction with superradiant light
scattering. Quantum degenerate gases inside optical resonators can be used to
emulate opto-mechanics as well as novel quantum phases like supersolids and
spin glasses. Non-equilibrium quantum phase transitions, as predicted by e.g.
the Dicke Hamiltonian, can be controlled and explored in real-time via
monitoring the cavity field. In combination with optical lattices, the cavity
field can be utilized for non-destructive probing Hubbard physics and tailoring
long-range interactions for ultracold quantum systems.Comment: 55 page review pape
Extension Publications
Summary of the discussion session on Extension Publications, discussion leader Don Esslinger
Molecules of Fermionic Atoms in an Optical Lattice
We create molecules from fermionic atoms in a three-dimensional optical
lattice using a Feshbach resonance. In the limit of low tunnelling, the
individual wells can be regarded as independent three-dimensional harmonic
oscillators. The measured binding energies for varying scattering length agree
excellently with the theoretical prediction for two interacting atoms in a
harmonic oscillator. We demonstrate that the formation of molecules can be used
to measure the occupancy of the lattice and perform thermometry.Comment: 4 page
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