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Distillation of Bose-Einstein condensates in a double-well potential

Y. Shin·M. Saba·A. Schirotzek·T. A. Pasquini·A. E. Leanhardt·D. E. Pritchard·W. Ketterle
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Abstract

Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms, prepared in an optical dipole trap, were distilled into a second empty dipole trap adjacent to the first one. The distillation was driven by thermal atoms spilling over the potential barrier separating the two wells and then forming a new condensate. This process serves as a model system for metastability in condensates, provides a test for quantum kinetic theories of condensate formation, and also represents a novel technique for creating or replenishing condensates in new locations.

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Y. Shin, M. Saba, A. Schirotzek, T. A. Pasquini, A. E. Leanhardt, D. E. Pritchard, W. Ketterle. 2003-11-21. Distillation of Bose-Einstein condensates in a double-well potential. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.92.150401

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