Scattering length for fermionic alkali atoms

Henni Ouerdane, Michael J. Jamieson

P. J. O. Teubner

Abraham Kasdan

I. I. Cherlenyak, Vladimir I. Lengyel, Emil P. Sabad

Daniel J. Heinzen

Atomic interactions play a crucial role in Bose-condensed alkali gases. The condensate self-energy, proportional to the two-body s-wave scattering length, strongly affects the stability and other properties of a condensate. Alkali atom scattering lengths have been determined only during the past few years by a combination of conventional molecular spectroscopy, photoassociation spectroscopy, and ultracold atomic collision studies. In this article, we present a brief review of alkali atom interactions and scattering length determinations.

Thomas F. O'Malley