Bose-Einstein condensation in a gas of sodium atoms

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Bulletin of the American Physical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/EQEC.1996.561567· OSTI ID:394173

Davis, K ^[1]

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1. Massuchusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)

The study of BEC in weakly interacting system holds the promise of revealing new macroscopic quantum phenomena that can be understood from first principles, and may advance present understanding of superconductivity and superfluidity. By employing several new experimental techniques, the dark SPOT trap, rf induced evaporation, and the optically plugged magnetic trap, the authors were able to observe BEC in a gas of sodium atoms. The striking signature of Bose condensation was the sudden appearance of a bimodal velocity distribution below the critical temperature of {approximately} 2 {mu}K. The distribution consisted of an isotropic thermal distribution and an elliptical core attributed to the expansion of a dense condensate. Condensates contained up to 5 x 10{sup 5} atoms at densities exceeding 10{sup 14} cm{sup {minus}3}. Such high densities are unprecedented in cold atomic gases and open up new possibilities for studying a weakly interacting Bose gas over a broad range of densities and therefore strengths of interaction.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 394173
• Report Number(s): CONF-9605105--
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal Name: Bulletin of the American Physical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 41; ISSN BAPSA6; ISSN 0003-0503
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION
SODIUM
VELOCITY