Bosonic and fermionic gases in a optical trap

• Grant number: 07/03758-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2007
• End date: April 30, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Principal Investigator: Luis Gustavo Marcassa
• Grantee: Luis Gustavo Marcassa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The production of quantum gases, bosonic and fermionic as well, is a reality nowadays in several laboratories in the world. Unfortunately, due to fermions quantum nature, its production in ultralow temperatures can only occur through a contact with a bosonic gas, thus requiring an atomic species mixture. After the production of such mixtures, innumerable experiments can be carried: creation of vortices, superfluidity, thermodynamics, polar molecule production, and Mott superfluid-insulator transition. The Mott transition bosonic gases has the potential to allow an interface between the Atomic Physics and Condensed Matter Physics. In this project we will start a new line of research in our laboratory involving trapping of bosonic and fermionic quantum gases in an optical dipole trap. The principal goal of this project is to study the atomic collisions in this temperature, involving heteronuclear samples (KRb) as well cold Rydberg atoms. Both experiments are a natural evolution of the research carried out in my laboratory in the last five years. The planned experiments in such samples involve to obtain a Rb condensate in a optical dipole trap, followed by the achievement of a fermionic gas in K in a K/Rb mixture; formation and study of molecules homonucleares and heteronucleares in the optical dipole trap; and Rydberg atoms in a optical dipole trap. To the end of this project we will be in conditions of beginning a new era of experiments involving the Mott transition. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

NASCIMENTO, V. A.; CALIRI, L. L.; SCHWETTMANN, A.; SHAFFER, J. P.; MARCASSA, L. G.. Electric Field Effects in the Excitation of Cold Rydberg-Atom Pairs. Physical Review Letters, v. 102, n. 21, p. 213201-1-213201-4, May 2009. (07/03758-0)