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Le Journal de Physique Colloques

THE STABILIZATION OF ATOMIC HYDROGEN : A NEW BOSE GAS

Isaac F. Silvera, Jook T. M. Walraven

Published Jul 1, 1980• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Under normal circumstances a gas of atomic hydrogen (H) is highly unstable with respect to recombination to molecular hydrogen, H2. We have succeeded in stabilizing a gas of spin polarised hydrogen (H↓) at T = 300 mK in magnetic fields up to 10 Tesla in a superfluid helium coated cell. Densities of at least 1016atoms/cc have already been achieved. H is found to have a surprisingly long life even in zero magnetic field. Evidence points to H↓ remaining in the gaseous form and not liquifying or condensing out on the surfaces to any large extent. The crucial experimental techniques used to stabilize H↓ will be discussed as well as some of the observed properties and expectations of this new Bose gas.

DOI
10.1051/jphyscol:1980722

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Spin-polarized atomic hydrogen: A magnetic gas (invited)

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Atomic hydrogen (H) has recently been created in a long-lived state referred to as spin-polarized atomic hydrogen (H↓). A moderate density gas (n≃1017 atoms/ cc) has been produced at temperatures T≃400 mK. H↓ is predicted to be the only atomic substance that remains gaseous to T = 0 K; current experiments are consistent with this picture. Since the H↓ atoms behave as composite bosons the gas is expected to have a Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) and related superfluidity at a sufficiently high density or low temperature. H↓ is expected to display spectacular static and dynamic properties. Since the gas is polarized, the dominant electronic magnetization, M⃗e, is proportional to the atomic density. In an inhomogeneous magnetic field M⃗e will also be highly inhomogeneous. BEC will be spatially localized and the static M⃗e should be an identifying feature of this state. The low-lying excitation spectrum should not only feature electronic and nuclear spin-transitions, but should also have magnetic translational modes of the gas. The experimental technique for stabilization of H↓ as well as many of the predicted magnetic properties are discussed.

Journal of Applied Physics•Mar 1, 1981•17 citations

Spin-Polarized Hydrogen: Prospects for Bose–Einstein Condensation and Two-Dimensional Superfluidity

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Spin-polarized atomic hydrogen continues to be one of the most promising candidates for Bose condensation of an atomic system. In contrast to liquid helium, hydrogen is gaseous and therefore its density can be changed to vary its behavior from the weakly to the strongly interacting Bose gas. Until now, efforts to Bose condense hydrogen have been thwarted by recombination and relaxation phenomena. After a long introduction to the subject, two promising approaches to observe quantum degenerate behavior are discussed: the microwave trap and a two-dimensional gas of hydrogen. Introduction Since the stabilization of atomic hydrogen as a spin-polarized gas (H↓), reported in 1980 [1], there has been a continuous effort to observe Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) or other effects of quantum degeneracy in this Bose gas. This challenge has not yet been realized due to the instability of H↓ towards recombination to H 2 or relaxation among hyperfine states as the conditions for BEC are approached. Although this difficulty is formidable, hydrogen presents a unique opportunity to study BEC and the related superfluidity, as it remains a gas to T = 0 [2]. By comparison, 4 He, the only experimentally observed boson fluid, is a strongly interacting superfluid Bose liquid, with little flexibility for varying its density. As a result of the gaseous nature of hydrogen, its density, n , can be varied over several orders of magnitude with the possibility of studying BEC and its relationship to superfluidity, ranging from the weakly to the strongly interacting boson gas.

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Spin-polarized, atomic hydrogen at temperatures below 1K shows promise of becoming the first physically realizable example of a degenerate, weakly interacting Bose gas. Because of the hyperfine structure of the hydrogen atom the Bose condensed state is expected to exhibit novel magnetic properties such as spin wave excitations of the superfluid and possibly a coherent precessing, spontaneous magnetization. This paper discusses a variety of theoretical problems which arise in the study of atomic hydrogen gas. Theories are presented for spin relaxation of the hyperfine levels and for the recombination of H-atoms into H2 molecules. The problem of the binding of H atoms to a surface of superfluid 4He is reviewed together with the theory of surface superfluidity in the hydrogen film proposed by Edwards and Mantz. Finally we consider the problem of superfluidity in the bulk atomic hydrogen gas. We describe the theory of Siggia and Ruckenstein of double Bose condensation into the two lowest hyperfine states and speculate about the possible observable consequences of this phenomenon.

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Spin-polarized hydrogen confined in three and two-dimensions

Isaac F. Silvera

Experimental efforts to produce a Bose Einstein condensed (BEC) gas of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen have been intensely pursued since 1980. Initial efforts studied hydrogen in contact with superfluid helium surfaces. In order to avoid the limiting wall recombination a static magnetic trap was developed which utilizes magnetic barriers to isolate atoms from the van der Wals walls. In this approach traps can be filled to about 10{sup 14} atoms/cm{sup 3} for which the critical temperature is in the region of 20-30 {mu}K. However, approaching BEC conditions, a new instability dominates the behavior. The authors have developed a new type of electromagnetic trap, a microwave (mw) trap in which the trapped atoms are in the ground spin-state so that at low temperature relaxation to a barrier state is strongly suppressed and BEC should be attainable. The shallow mw trap has recently been demonstrated experimentally for the cesium atom. Because the mw trap is so shallow it is necessary to precool the atoms for loading. The authors are constructing a hybrid trap in which the atoms are cooled in a static trap and then transferred to a mw trap where they can be further evaporatively cooled in an effort to achieve BEC.more » This trap should have density limits in the region of 10{sup 16} to 10{sup 17}/cm{sup 3} due to three-body recombination. A second, promising approach is in a 2-D geometry for which in finite sized systems BEC is allowed. Hydrogen atoms are confined to a superfluid helium surface by the absorption potential to form a 2-D gas. Although recombination is an important process on helium surfaces, recently the authors have shown that only a very small fraction of the recombination energy is coupled into the surface. With an appropriate geometry the recombination energy can be removed from the sample region to suppress heating to a negligible level. Furthermore in 2-D a magnetic field can have a maximum so that atoms can be confined to a very small area.« less

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•Apr 1, 1995•0 citations

THEORETICAL ISSUES CONCERNING THE STABILITY OF ELECTRON SPIN-POLARIZED HYDROGEN

W. C. Stwalley, Yea-Hwang Uang, R. F. Ferrante +1 more

Hydrogen atoms with their electron spin polarized in a strong magnetic field ("spinaligned hydrogen" ; symbolized H+) should remain a metastable gaseous quantum fluid even at absolute zero. However, there are many possible ways of destroying this metastability. At high density ≥ 1021/cm3) Berlinsky et al. have suggested that a coherent spin-wave destruction mechanism prevents stability. At lower densities (high enough for Bose-Einstein condensation, however), gas phase and surface recombination mechanisms should be of primary concern. One critical question is essentially the explosion limit for H+., i.e. at what density will a single electronic spin flip event trigger massive recombination, heating and destruction of the sample (perhaps a good "detector" for highly forbidden processes) ? The second critical question is what events will trigger such explosions assuming one is above the limit ? We shall present our current understanding of these two critical questions (including high accuracy two-body collision calculations) and their implications in experimental design (e.g. field inhomogeneity effects, helium coating of surfaces, removal of deuterium impurities, etc.).

Le Journal de Physique Colloques•Jul 1, 1980•4 citations

Atomic hydrogen: the quantum gas

Jook T. M. Walraven

It was a complete surprise when Isaac Silvera and his colleagues at the University of Amsterdam observed the existence of a remarkably stable gas of hydrogen atoms in 1979. They found that a gas of the so-called “atom of atoms” could be confined for several minutes in a cryogenic test cell close to absolute zero, provided that the walls were coated with a film of liquid helium. Until then, if researchers wanted to study monoatomic hydrogen for any length of time they had to use a discharge source to replace those hydrogen atoms that recombined to form molecular hydrogen. But most important, Silvera's experiments marked the first experimental investigation of a dilute quantum gas.

Physics World•Jul 1, 1995•5 citations
Under normal circumstances a gas of atomic hydrogen (H) is highly unstable with respect to recombination to molecular hydrogen, H2. We have succeeded in stabilizing a gas of spin polarised hydrogen (H↓) at T = 300 mK in magnetic fields up to 10 Tesla in a superfluid helium coated cell. Densities of at least 1016atoms/cc have already been achieved. H is found to have a surprisingly long life even in zero magnetic field. Evidence points to H↓ remaining in the gaseous form and not liquifying or condensing out on the surfaces to any large extent. The crucial experimental techniques used to stabilize H↓ will be discussed as well as some of the observed properties and expectations of this new Bose gas.
Atomic hydrogen (H) has recently been created in a long-lived state referred to as spin-polarized atomic hydrogen (H↓). A moderate density gas (n≃1017 atoms/ cc) has been produced at temperatures T≃400 mK. H↓ is predicted to be the only atomic substance that remains gaseous to T = 0 K; current experiments are consistent with this picture. Since the H↓ atoms behave as composite bosons the gas is expected to have a Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) and related superfluidity at a sufficiently high density or low temperature. H↓ is expected to display spectacular static and dynamic properties. Since the gas is polarized, the dominant electronic magnetization, M⃗e, is proportional to the atomic density. In an inhomogeneous magnetic field M⃗e will also be highly inhomogeneous. BEC will be spatially localized and the static M⃗e should be an identifying feature of this state. The low-lying excitation spectrum should not only feature electronic and nuclear spin-transitions, but should also have magnetic translational modes of the gas. The experimental technique for stabilization of H↓ as well as many of the predicted magnetic properties are discussed.
Spin-polarized atomic hydrogen continues to be one of the most promising candidates for Bose condensation of an atomic system. In contrast to liquid helium, hydrogen is gaseous and therefore its density can be changed to vary its behavior from the weakly to the strongly interacting Bose gas. Until now, efforts to Bose condense hydrogen have been thwarted by recombination and relaxation phenomena. After a long introduction to the subject, two promising approaches to observe quantum degenerate behavior are discussed: the microwave trap and a two-dimensional gas of hydrogen. Introduction Since the stabilization of atomic hydrogen as a spin-polarized gas (H↓), reported in 1980 [1], there has been a continuous effort to observe Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) or other effects of quantum degeneracy in this Bose gas. This challenge has not yet been realized due to the instability of H↓ towards recombination to H 2 or relaxation among hyperfine states as the conditions for BEC are approached. Although this difficulty is formidable, hydrogen presents a unique opportunity to study BEC and the related superfluidity, as it remains a gas to T = 0 [2]. By comparison, 4 He, the only experimentally observed boson fluid, is a strongly interacting superfluid Bose liquid, with little flexibility for varying its density. As a result of the gaseous nature of hydrogen, its density, n , can be varied over several orders of magnitude with the possibility of studying BEC and its relationship to superfluidity, ranging from the weakly to the strongly interacting boson gas.
Spin-polarized, atomic hydrogen at temperatures below 1K shows promise of becoming the first physically realizable example of a degenerate, weakly interacting Bose gas. Because of the hyperfine structure of the hydrogen atom the Bose condensed state is expected to exhibit novel magnetic properties such as spin wave excitations of the superfluid and possibly a coherent precessing, spontaneous magnetization. This paper discusses a variety of theoretical problems which arise in the study of atomic hydrogen gas. Theories are presented for spin relaxation of the hyperfine levels and for the recombination of H-atoms into H2 molecules. The problem of the binding of H atoms to a surface of superfluid 4He is reviewed together with the theory of surface superfluidity in the hydrogen film proposed by Edwards and Mantz. Finally we consider the problem of superfluidity in the bulk atomic hydrogen gas. We describe the theory of Siggia and Ruckenstein of double Bose condensation into the two lowest hyperfine states and speculate about the possible observable consequences of this phenomenon.
Experimental efforts to produce a Bose Einstein condensed (BEC) gas of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen have been intensely pursued since 1980. Initial efforts studied hydrogen in contact with superfluid helium surfaces. In order to avoid the limiting wall recombination a static magnetic trap was developed which utilizes magnetic barriers to isolate atoms from the van der Wals walls. In this approach traps can be filled to about 10{sup 14} atoms/cm{sup 3} for which the critical temperature is in the region of 20-30 {mu}K. However, approaching BEC conditions, a new instability dominates the behavior. The authors have developed a new type of electromagnetic trap, a microwave (mw) trap in which the trapped atoms are in the ground spin-state so that at low temperature relaxation to a barrier state is strongly suppressed and BEC should be attainable. The shallow mw trap has recently been demonstrated experimentally for the cesium atom. Because the mw trap is so shallow it is necessary to precool the atoms for loading. The authors are constructing a hybrid trap in which the atoms are cooled in a static trap and then transferred to a mw trap where they can be further evaporatively cooled in an effort to achieve BEC.more » This trap should have density limits in the region of 10{sup 16} to 10{sup 17}/cm{sup 3} due to three-body recombination. A second, promising approach is in a 2-D geometry for which in finite sized systems BEC is allowed. Hydrogen atoms are confined to a superfluid helium surface by the absorption potential to form a 2-D gas. Although recombination is an important process on helium surfaces, recently the authors have shown that only a very small fraction of the recombination energy is coupled into the surface. With an appropriate geometry the recombination energy can be removed from the sample region to suppress heating to a negligible level. Furthermore in 2-D a magnetic field can have a maximum so that atoms can be confined to a very small area.« less
Hydrogen atoms with their electron spin polarized in a strong magnetic field ("spinaligned hydrogen" ; symbolized H+) should remain a metastable gaseous quantum fluid even at absolute zero. However, there are many possible ways of destroying this metastability. At high density ≥ 1021/cm3) Berlinsky et al. have suggested that a coherent spin-wave destruction mechanism prevents stability. At lower densities (high enough for Bose-Einstein condensation, however), gas phase and surface recombination mechanisms should be of primary concern. One critical question is essentially the explosion limit for H+., i.e. at what density will a single electronic spin flip event trigger massive recombination, heating and destruction of the sample (perhaps a good "detector" for highly forbidden processes) ? The second critical question is what events will trigger such explosions assuming one is above the limit ? We shall present our current understanding of these two critical questions (including high accuracy two-body collision calculations) and their implications in experimental design (e.g. field inhomogeneity effects, helium coating of surfaces, removal of deuterium impurities, etc.).
It was a complete surprise when Isaac Silvera and his colleagues at the University of Amsterdam observed the existence of a remarkably stable gas of hydrogen atoms in 1979. They found that a gas of the so-called “atom of atoms” could be confined for several minutes in a cryogenic test cell close to absolute zero, provided that the walls were coated with a film of liquid helium. Until then, if researchers wanted to study monoatomic hydrogen for any length of time they had to use a discharge source to replace those hydrogen atoms that recombined to form molecular hydrogen. But most important, Silvera's experiments marked the first experimental investigation of a dilute quantum gas.