Quantum gases
The Bose-Einstein condensate is an exciting frontier of atomic physics, made possible by the addition of new cooling techniques beyond traditional laser cooling. At such low temperatures, new physics arises, which is closely related to the behavior of spin systems in condensed matter systems and phenomena in strongly correlated systems. These "quantum gases" have novel properties which go beyond the hydrodynamics of simple Bose-Einstein condensates, because of the contributions of internal states and spin statistics constraints. Here, we show how the richness of quantum gas physics is accessible to ultracold atoms, by describing the basic techniques used to create ultracold atomic quantum gases, and by exploring some of the novel physical phenomena which arise, such as the superfluid to Mott-insulator transition, and Bose-Fermi mixtures.
- Techniques for cooling to ultralow temperatures
- Magnetic trapping and evaporative cooling (2009 Class notes)
- Ultracold Bosons
Handouts
- Bose-Einstein condensation
- Further reading: Bose-Einstein Condensation in Dilute Gases, C.J. Pethick and H. Smith, selected pages
- On Bogoliubov transformation and collective excitation: pp. 205-214
- On nonlinear Schrödinger equation: pp. 146-156
- On hydrodynamics: pp. 165-179
- Mott insulator transition
- Ultracold Fermi gases
