| Abstract |
Since their first demonstration in 1995, Bose-Einstein condensâtes have become an attractive tool for further developments in fields as various as integrated atom chips, atomic clocks and quantum computing. Thus, it is important to understand the properties of these condensâtes in detail, and in particular the condensed matter behaviour of their phase properties. We propose to investigate scattering, fusion, and interference of two simultaneously trapped Bose-Einstein condensâtes. The main goal is to study the influence of topological macroscopic excitations - vortices - on the phase coherence phenomena and dynamical properties. The present project focuses on the experimental approach. A direct interaction with the theoretical group in the host institution will help extracting the physical picture of the dissipative dynamics of vortex-antivortex annihilation under these conditions. The work will be done in the 'Quantum Gases' group run by Prof. Dr. J. T. M. Walraven and Prof. Dr. G. V. Shlyapnikov, at AMOLF, Amsterdam. This group has demonstrated its expertise in both experimental and theoretical work on ultra cold gases and Bose Einstein Condensation. The host group has agreed to embed this proposal into their research program. A preliminary experiment has already been done with the experimental apparatus at the host institute, which demonstrates the possibility of driving the collision of two magnetically trapped Bose-Einstein condensâtes. The setup will be upgraded to allow the proposed vortex experiments. Scattering will be studied by driving fast collisions between high-density condensâtes; fusion by slowly colliding high-density condensâtes; interference by overlapping low-density condensâtes. In this setting the applicant will develop high level scientific skills complementary to those he has already developed during his PhD thesis. He will also participate in international conferences and in managing and supervising.
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