20 research outputs found
Band Gaps for Atoms in Light based Waveguides
The energy spectrum for a system of atoms in a periodic potential can exhibit
a gap in the band structure. We describe a system in which a laser is used to
produce a mechanical potential for the atoms, and a standing wave light field
is used to shift the atomic levels using the Autler-Townes effect, which
produces a periodic potential. The band structure for atoms guided by a hollow
optical fiber waveguide is calculated in three dimensions with quantised
external motion. The size of the band gap is controlled by the light guided by
the fiber. This variable band structure may allow the construction of devices
which can cool atoms. The major limitation on this device would be the
spontaneous emission losses.Comment: 7 pages, four postscript figures, uses revtex.sty, available through
http://online.anu.edu.au/Physics/papers/atom.htm
Breakdown of superfluidity of an atom laser past an obstacle
The 1D flow of a continuous beam of Bose-Einstein condensed atoms in the
presence of an obstacle is studied as a function of the beam velocity and of
the type of perturbing potential (representing the interaction of the obstacle
with the atoms of the beam). We identify the relevant regimes:
stationary/time-dependent and superfluid/dissipative; the absence of drag is
used as a criterion for superfluidity. There exists a critical velocity below
which the flow is superfluid. For attractive obstacles, we show that this
critical velocity can reach the value predicted by Landau's approach. For
penetrable obstacles, it is shown that superfluidity is recovered at large beam
velocity. Finally, enormous differences in drag occur when switching from
repulsive to attractive potential.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure