Development of a new method to cool neutral atoms and its application towards the study of quantum turbulence

• Grant number: 16/50033-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Agreement: University of Texas - Austin
• Principal Investigator: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Grantee: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Principal researcher abroad: Mark Raizen
• Institution abroad: University of Texas at Austin (UT), United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the present proposal we describe, firstly, how a novel and more general method to cool atoms will be developed as an alternative to laser cooling which can produce much larger Bose-Einstein condensates. Secondly, this method will be applied towards the study of quantum turbulence, enabling a breakthrough in this field. The current project brings together the fields of expertise of the two independent laboratories (UT Austin and USP Sao Carlos), that have fruitfully interacted in the past, with a high expected added value upon its accomplishment. (AU)