Few-body physics of ultracold atoms and molecules in confined geometry

Vladimir Melezhik

Bogoliubov Lab. of Theoretical Physics, JINR, Dubna

Outline:

Experimental achievements (laser cooling, optical traps, atomic chips)

New physics: quantum gases, physics of Bose-Einstein condensations

Problems: low-dimensional few-body physics

Theoretical models (simple ones)

Resent results (extended models)

Perspectives, what is going to happen ?

3-5 Feb 2010, Dubna

Creation of ultracold atoms and molecules (quantum gases)

Progress in production of ultracold atoms and molecules: laser cooling

V.S.Letokhov,V.G.Minogin andB.D.Pavlik, ZhTPH, 72, 1328 (1977)

Steven Chu Claude Cohen-Tannoudji William D. PhillipsThe Nobel Prize in Physics 1997

Dilute gas two distance scales:

and

Boltsmann gas

Quantum statistics

bosons

BEC

= macroscopic occupation of a single quantum state

BEC objects

Neutron stars

R

Superfluid

Dilute atomic gases

Exitones in semiconductors

Collective behavior of extremely dilute systemsGeneration of coherent matter waves

Status at about 2005-2008

2009

ultracold atoms in optical traps, atomic chips, quantum wires

Two-Body Problem in Restricted Geometry:a) Quantization in the direction of the confinement

+

Botsmann gas quantum gass

Two-body problem in confined geometry

non-separable two-body problem

simple model: pseudopotential approach (zero-range potential)

Isotropic confinement:

Physical interpretation of CIR

• CIR is a zero-energy Feshbach resonance, occurring when the energy of a bound state of the asymptotically closed channels coincides with the continuum threshold of the open channel.

Experimental observation of CIR

strongly-correlated Tonk-Girardeau gas

(Innsbruck )

B

What happens if atoms scatter in excited states?

E

What happens in collision of two distinguishable particles in a harmonic waveguide if ?

What happens if inelastic collisions? Molecule formation?