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S. Burger

Publications and source records attributed to S. Burger.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate at finite temperature in an atomoptical coherence filter

The macroscopic coherent tunneling through the barriers of a periodic potential is used as an atomoptical filter to separate the condensate and the thermal components of a $^{87}$Rb mixed cloud. We condense in the combined potential of a laser standing-wave superimposed on the axis of a cigar-shape magnetic trap and induce condensate dipole oscillation in the presence of a static thermal component. The oscillation is damped due to interaction with the thermal fraction and we investigate the role played by the periodic potential in the damping process.

cond-mat.soft↗

Generation and interaction of solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates

Generation, interaction and detection of dark solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates is considered. In particular, we focus on the dynamics resulting from phase imprinting and density engineering. The generation of soliton pairs as well as their interaction is also considered. Finally, motivated by the recent experimental results of Cornish et al. (Phys. Rev Lett. 85, 1795, 2000), we analyze the stability of dark solitons under changes of the scattering length and thereby demonstrate a new way to detect them. Our theoretical and numerical results compare well with the existing experimental ones and provide guidance for future experiments.

cond-mat.soft↗

Bose-Einstein Condensates in a 1D Optical Lattice

We give an overview on current experiments on Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice. We introduce measurements of ground state, tunnelling and dynamical properties as well as investigations of atom optical applications and thermodynamical properties. Measurements of the coherent atomic current in an array of Josephson junctions and the critical velocity for the breakdown of superfluid motion are discussed in detail.

cond-mat↗

Quasi 2D Bose-Einstein condensation in an optical lattice

We study the phase transition of a gas of Rb atoms to quantum degeneracy in the combined potential of a harmonically confining magnetic trap and the periodic potential of an optical lattice. For high optical lattice potentials we observe a significant change in the temperature dependency of the population of the ground state of the system. The experimental results are explained by the subsequent formation of quasi 2D condensates in the single lattice sites.

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Josephson Junction Arrays with Bose-Einstein Condensates

We report on the direct observation of an oscillating atomic current in a one-dimensional array of Josephson junctions realized with an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. The array is created by a laser standing-wave, with the condensates trapped in the valleys of the periodic potential and weakly coupled by the inter-well barriers. The coherence of multiple tunneling between adjacent wells is continuously probed by atomic interference. The square of the small-amplitude oscillation frequency is proportional to the microscopic tunneling rate of each condensate through the barriers, and provides a direct measurement of the Josephson critical current as a function of the intermediate barrier heights. Our superfluid array may allow investigation of phenomena so far inaccessible to superconducting Josephson junctions and lays a bridge between the condensate dynamics and the physics of discrete nonlinear media.

cond-mat.soft↗

Expansion of a coherent array of Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigate the properties of a coherent array containing about 200 Bose-Einstein condensates produced in a far detuned 1D optical lattice. The density profile of the gas, imaged after releasing the trap, provides information about the coherence of the ground-state wavefunction. The measured atomic distribution is characterized by interference peaks. The time evolution of the peaks, their relative population as well as the radial size of the expanding cloud are in good agreement with the predictions of theory. The 2D nature of the trapped condensates and the conditions required to observe the effects of coherence are also discussed.

cond-mat.soft↗

Superfluid and Dissipative Dynamics of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Periodic Optical Potential

We create Bose-Einstein condensates of 87-rubidium in a static magnetic trap with a superimposed blue-detuned 1D optical lattice. By displacing the magnetic trap center we are able to control the condensate evolution. We observe a change in the frequency of the center-of-mass oscillation in the harmonic trapping potential, in analogy with an increase in effective mass. For fluid velocities greater than a local speed of sound, we observe the onset of dissipative processes up to full removal of the superfluid component. A parallel simulation study visualizes the dynamics of the BEC and accounts for the main features of the observed behavior.

cond-mat↗

Dark soliton creation in Bose-Einstein condensates

It is demonstrated that stable, standing dark solitons can be created in current dilute-gas Bose-Einstein condensate experiments by the proper combination of phase and density engineering. Other combinations result in a widely controllable range of grey solitons. The phonon contribution is small and is calculated precisely. The ensuing dynamics should be observable in situ, i.e. without ballistic expansion of the condensate.

cond-mat↗

A Waveguide for Bose-Einstein Condensates

We report on the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates of $^{87}$Rb in a specially designed hybrid, dipole and magnetic trap. This trap naturally allows the coherent transfer of matter waves into a pure dipole potential waveguide based on a doughnut beam. Specifically, we present studies of the coherence of the ensemble in the hybrid trap and during the evolution in the waveguide by means of an autocorrelation interferometer scheme. By monitoring the expansion of the ensemble in the waveguide we observe a mean field dominated acceleration on a much longer time scale than in the free 3D expansion. Both the autocorrelation interference and the pure expansion measurements are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions of the ensemble dynamics.

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Dark Solitons in Bose-Einstein Condensates

Dark solitons in cigar shaped Bose-Einstein condensates of Rubidium-87 are created by a phase imprinting method. Coherent and dissipative dynamics of the solitons has been observed.

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Coherent Evolution of Bouncing Bose-Einstein Condensates

We investigate the evolution of Bose-Einstein condensates falling under gravity and bouncing off a mirror formed by a far-detuned sheet of light. After reflection, the atomic density profile develops splitting and interference structures which depend on the drop height, on the strength of the light sheet, as well as on the initial mean field energy and size of the condensate. We compare experimental results with simulations of the Gross-Pitaevski equation. A comparison with the behaviour of bouncing thermal clouds allows to identify quantum features specific for condensates.

cond-mat↗