arXiv subjects

M. Köhl

Publications and source records attributed to M. Köhl.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Observing the Profile of an Atom Laser Beam

We report on an investigation of the beam profile of an atom laser extracted from a magnetically trapped $^{87}$Rb Bose-Einstein condensate. The transverse momentum distribution is magnified by a curved mirror for matter waves and a momentum resolution of 1/60 of a photon recoil is obtained. We find the transverse momentum distribution to be determined by the mean-field potential of the residing condensate, which leads to a non-smooth transverse density distribution. Our experimental data are compared with a full 3D simulation of the output coupling process and we find good agreement.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Cavity QED Detection of Interfering Matter Waves

We observe the build-up of a matter wave interference pattern from single atom detection events in a double-slit experiment. The interference arises from two overlapping atom laser beams extracted from a Rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate. Our detector is a high-finesse optical cavity which realizes the quantum measurement of the presence of an atom and thereby projects delocalized atoms into a state with zero or one atom in the resonator. The experiment reveals simultaneously the granular and the wave nature of matter.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

Superfluid to Mott insulator transition in one, two, and three dimensions

We have created one-, two-, and three-dimensional quantum gases and study the superfluid to Mott insulator transition. Measurements of the transition using Bragg spectroscopy show that the excitation spectra of the low-dimensional superfluids differ significantly from the three-dimensional case.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

On the transverse mode of an atom laser

The transverse mode of an atom laser beam that is outcoupled from a Bose-Einstein condensate is investigated and is found to be strongly determined by the mean--field interaction of the laser beam with the condensate. Since for repulsive interactions the geometry of the coupling scheme resembles an interferometer in momentum space, the beam is found show filamentation. Observation of this effect would prove the transverse coherence of an atom laser beam.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

Growth of Bose-Einstein Condensates from Thermal Vapor

We report on a quantitative study of the growth process of $^{87}$Rb Bose-Einstein condensates. By continuous evaporative cooling we directly control the thermal cloud from which the condensate grows. We compare the experimental data with the results of a theoretical model based on quantum kinetic theory. We find quantitative agreement with theory for the situation of strong cooling, whereas in the weak cooling regime a distinctly different behaviour is found in the experiment.

cond-mat.soft↗