We discuss the stability of homonuclear and heteronuclear mixtures of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ atoms in the metastable $2 {}^{3}{S}_{1}$ state (${\mathrm{He}}^{*}$) and predict positions and widths of Feshbach resonances by using the asymptotic-bound-state model. All calculations are performed without fit parameters, using ab initio calculations of molecular potentials. One promising very broad Feshbach resonance ($\ensuremath{\Delta}B={72.9}_{\ensuremath{-}19.3}^{+18.3}$ mT) is found that allows for tuning of the interisotope scattering length.
We discuss the stability of homonuclear and heteronuclear mixtures of 3He and 4He atoms in the metastable 23S1 state (He∗) and predict positions and widths of Feshbach resonances by using the asymptotic-bound-state model. All calculations are performed without fit parameters, using ab initio calculations of molecular potentials. One promising very broad Feshbach resonance (\ensuremathΔB=72.9\ensuremath−19.3+18.3 mT) is found that allows for tuning of the interisotope scattering length.
The susceptibility of ultracold gases to precise manipulation via external fields makes them ideal systems to study fundamental quantum mechanical phenomena. Various regimes, which are not possible to reach in condensed matter or nuclear physics, can be probed with these quantum gases. Especially the tunability of the interactions and confining potentials make that these ultracold gases offer unique possibilities to explore and study universal behavior. The tunability of the dominant two-body interactions in dilute ultracold atomic gases stems from the presence of Feshbach resonances. Via these resonances pairs of ultracold atoms can be associated to form ultracold molecules. In fact, measurements of Feshbach resonance positions can be used to reveal part of the underlying molecular structure. Vica versa, accurate molecular Born-Oppenheimer potentials can be used as input for full numerical coupled-channels calculations to reliably predict Feshbach resonances. For most of the heteronuclear mixtures currently studied however, the relevant molecular potentials are not accurate enough. As the coupled-channels method is often too elaborate and too time consuming to be used to fit the measured data to enable the construction of more accurate potentials, a need for accurate models which complement this established method is created. In this thesis we have developed a simplified model for resonant scattering of two ultracold atoms which fulfills this need. The asymptotic bound-state model (ABM) is a hierarchical model which can be systematically increased in complexity and accuracy. In its most simple form, the ABM only needs two parameters to predict the position and strength of Feshbach resonances: Two binding energies corresponding to the least bound state of the two molecular potentials involved. We demonstrate that this model, although it is solely based on bound states, can incorporate threshold effects. Additionally, the model can be extended to include: Multiple vibrational levels, overlapping resonances, and magnetic dipole-dipole interactions. This versatile model allows for a description of Feshbach resonances in a large variety of systems without accurate knowledge of the relevant molecular Born-Oppenheimer potentials. Being computationally light, the ABM can be used to analyze measurements of Feshbach resonances and hereby expose the basic underlying molecular structure. Additionally, the ABM is well suited to map out all available Feshbach resonances in a system. This ability is particularly useful when an optimal resonance is required for a certain experiment. For the 6Li-40K mixture we have utilized this ability to experimentally observe a strong Feshbach resonance which offers promising perspectives to reach the strongly interacting universal regime in a mass-imbalanced Fermi gas. By analyzing the various inelastic decay processes and the accuracy of the ab initio Born-Oppenheimer potentials, we predict a strong resonance in a mixture of metastable bosonic and fermionic helium atoms. For the homonuclear (bosonic as well as fermionic) helium gas we do not find strong resonances. For an ultracold gas of 40K atoms, an elaborate combined theoretical and experimental effort is presented to map out the Feshbach resonance structure. On the experimental side we observed 36 Feshbach resonances, 31 of which where observed for the first time. These observations are in excellent agreement with coupled-channels calculations which use unmodified Born-Oppenheimer potentials as input. On the theoretical side, we present a comparison between different simplified models of resonance scattering and the full numerical coupled-channels calculations. We have developed the resonant state model (RSM) to describe the resonant scattering of two ultracold atoms. This model is founded on resonant states, the natural (eigen) frequencies of the two-body system, and their non-trivial properties. Threshold effects are implicitly build into the RSM. The RSM can describe the effect of the continuum of scattering states, states which are neglected in the ABM, on the position and strength of a Feshbach resonance by only a few resonant states. Especially when a low-energy resonance is embedded in the continuum of scattering states, the effect of these states on the Feshbach resonance cannot be neglected. The RSM can be viewed as the natural generalization of the ABM. As the RSM can be based on just a few resonant states, it retains the computational simplicity of the ABM. Using the tunability of two-body interactions induced by a Feshbach resonance, we describe a crossover for a rotating Fermi gas between two strongly-correlated many-body states. We demonstrate that the correlation induced long-range interaction will shift the crossover with respect to the non-rotating case.
We present an Asymptotic Bound state Model (ABM), which is useful to predict Feshbach resonances. The model utilizes asymptotic properties of the interaction potentials to represent coupled molecular wavefunctions. The bound states of this system give rise to Feshbach resonances, localized at the magnetic fields of intersection of these bound states with the scattering threshold. This model was very successful to assign measured Feshbach resonances in an ultra cold mixture of ^6Li and ^40K atomsootnotetextE. Wille, F.M. Spiegelhalder, G. Kerner, D. Naik, A. Trenkwalder, G. Hendl, F. Schreck, R. Grimm, T.G. Tiecke, J.T.M. Walraven, S.J.J.M.F. Kokkelmans, E. Tiesinga, P.S. Julienne, arXiv:0711.2916. For this system, the accuracy of the determined scattering lengths is comparable to full coupled channels results. However, it was not possible to predict the width of the resonances. We discuss how an incorporation of threshold effects will improve the model, and we apply it to a mixture of ^87Rb and ^133Cs atoms, where recently Feshbach resonances have been measured.
We have observed 28 heteronuclear Feshbach resonances in ten spin combinations of the hyperfine ground states of a $^{40}\mathrm{K}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ mixture. The measurements were performed by observing the loss rates from an atomic mixture at magnetic fields between 0 and 700G. These data were used to significantly refine an interatomic potential derived from molecular spectroscopy, yielding a highly consistent model of the $^{40}\mathrm{K}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ interaction. Thus, the measured resonances can be assigned to the corresponding molecular states. In addition, this potential allows for an accurate calculation of the energy differences between highly excited levels and the rovibrational ground level. This information is of particular relevance for the formation of deeply bound heteronuclear molecules. Finally, the model is used to predict Feshbach resonances in mixtures of 87Rb combined with 39K or 41K.
Three magnetic-field induced heteronuclear Feshbach resonances were identified in collisions between bosonic 87Rb and fermionic 40K atoms in their absolute ground states. Strong inelastic loss from an optically trapped mixture was observed at the resonance positions of 492, 512, and $543\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}$. The magnetic-field locations of these resonances place a tight constraint on the triplet and singlet cross-species scattering lengths, yielding $(\ensuremath{-}281\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15){a}_{0}$ and $(\ensuremath{-}54\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}12){a}_{0}$, respectively. The width of the loss feature at 543 G is $3.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}$ wide; this broad Feshbach resonance should enable experimental control of the interspecies interactions.
We have observed 26 interspecies Feshbach resonances at fields up to 2050 G in ultracold 6Li+23Na mixtures for different spin-state combinations. Applying the asymptotic bound-state model to assign the resonances, we found that most resonances have d-wave character. This analysis serves as guidance for a coupled-channel calculation, which uses modified interaction potentials to describe the positions of the Feshbach resonances well within the experimental uncertainty and to calculate their widths. The scattering length derived from the improved interaction potentials is experimentally confirmed and deviates from previously reported values in sign and magnitude. We give prospects for 7Li+23Na and predict broad Feshbach resonances suitable for tuning.
We have investigated cold ionizing heteronuclear collisions in dilute mixtures of metastable (23S1)3He and 4He atoms, extending our previous work on the analogous homonuclear collisions [R. J. W. Stas et al., Phys. Rev. A 73, 032713 (2006)]. A simple theoretical model of such collisions enables us to calculate the heteronuclear ionization rate coefficient, for our quasiunpolarized gas, in the absence of resonant light (T=1.2mK): ${K}_{34}^{(\mathrm{th})}=2.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}∕\mathrm{s}$. This calculation is supported by a measurement of K34 using magneto-optically trapped mixtures containing about $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ atoms of each species, ${K}_{34}^{(\mathrm{exp})}=2.5(8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}∕\mathrm{s}$. Theory and experiment show good agreement.