arXiv · cond-mat/0509341
Coherent spinor dynamics in a spin-1 Bose condensate
Abstract
Collisions in a thermal gas are perceived as random or incoherent as a consequence of the large numbers of initial and final quantum states accessible to the system. In a quantum gas, e.g. a Bose-Einstein condensate or a degenerate Fermi gas, the phase space accessible to low energy collisions is so restricted that collisions be-come coherent and reversible. Here, we report the observation of coherent spin-changing collisions in a gas of spin-1 bosons. Starting with condensates occupying two spin states, a condensate in the third spin state is coherently and reversibly created by atomic collisions. The observed dynamics are analogous to Josephson oscillations in weakly connected superconductors and represent a type of matter-wave four-wave mixing. The spin-dependent scattering length is determined from these oscillations to be -1.45(18) Bohr. Finally, we demonstrate coherent control of the evolution of the system by applying differential phase shifts to the spin states using magnetic fields.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Ming-Shien Chang, Qishu Qin, Wenxian Zhang, Li You, Michael S. Chapman. 2005-09-20. Coherent spinor dynamics in a spin-1 Bose condensate. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys153
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.