Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Quantum and classical solitons with a two-component Bose gas

P. D. Drummond, Karen V. Kheruntsyan, Michael J. Bremner, Casey R. Myers

Published Aug 29, 2005• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Summary form only given. We consider the quantum theory of two atomic fields interacting coherently to form a molecular field via Raman photoassociation. This can be applied to treat interactions in either atomic Bose condensates or quantum Fermi gases, describing coherent molecule formation together with s-wave scattering This new type of super-chemical reaction (or nonlinear atom optics) has never been observed on Earth-and temperature even in space would be far too hot to observe it naturally. Thus, it would represent a breakthrough into a completely new type of low-temperature physics, only accessible at the temperatures that have been recently obtained experimentally. The theory required is also new, yet surprisingly relatively simple.

DOI
10.1109/iqec.2000.907981

Related papers

Coherent atomic-molecular simultons in BEC

P. D. Drummond, Karen V. Kheruntsyan, Hao He

Summary form only given. Parametric solitons or simultaneous solitary waves (simultons), involving the optical /spl chi//sup (2)/ nonlinearity, have been the topic of much recent theoretical and experimental interest in nonlinear optics. We propose a novel mechanism by which a similar phenomenon may occur in nonlinear atomic optics, in which coherent molecule formation in a Bose-Einstein condensate takes the place of second harmonic generation. This requires a coupling that converts two atoms into one molecule, thus generating coupled atomic and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates. Our model includes a coherent molecular formation process (i.e., without dissipation) in an atomic BEC vapor, either through a Feshbach resonance or Raman photo-association. The coherently coupled atom-molecular condensate could provide a route to the observation of a localized three-dimensional BEC soliton, even in the absence of a trap potential. A possible application is in the free propagation of a non-diverging atom laser pulse, thus greatly increasing the intensity in an atom laser beam.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Jan 20, 2003•0 citations

Quantum State Transfer through Coherent Atom-Molecule Conversion in Bose-Einstein Condensate

Subhrajit Modak, Priyam Das, Prasanta Kumar Panigrahi

We demonstrate complete quantum state transfer of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate to molecular condensate, mediated by solitonic excitations in a cigar shaped mean-field geometry. Starting with a localized solitonic atomic condensate, we show compatible gray solitonic configuration in the molecular condensate, which results in complete atom-molecule conversion. The effect of inter and intra-species interactions on the formation of molecular condensate is explicated in the presence of Raman Photoassociation. It is found that photoassociation plays a crucial role in the coherent atom-molecule conversion as well as in the soliton dynamics. The gray soliton dispersion reveals bistable behaviour, showing a re-entrant phase in a physically accessible parametric domain.

arXiv:1708.04286•Aug 14, 2017•0 citations

Theory of coherent photoassociation of a Bose-Einstein condensate

Marijan Koštrun, Matt Mackie, Robin Côté +1 more

We study coherent photoassociation, phenomena analogous to coherent optical transients in few-level systems, which may take place in photoassociation of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate but not in a nondegenerate gas. We develop a second-quantized Hamiltonian to describe photoassociation, and apply the Hamiltonian both in the momentum representation and in the position representation (field theory). The solution of the two-mode problem, including only one mode each for the atomic and molecular condensates, displays analogs of Rabi oscillations and rapid adiabatic passage. A classical version of the field theory for atoms and molecules is used to demonstrate that, in the presence of photoassociating light, a joint atom-molecule condensate is unstable against the growth of density fluctuations. Experimental complications, including spontaneous emission and unwanted ``rogue'' photodissociation from a photoassociated molecule, are analyzed. A two-color Raman scheme is studied as a method to set up an effective two-mode scheme with reduced spontaneous-emission losses. We discuss photoassociation rates and photoassociation Rabi frequencies for high-lying vibrational states in alkali dimers both on the basis of molecular-structure calculations, and by comparing with an experiment [Wynar et al., Science 287, 1016 (2000)].

arXiv:physics/0006066•Physical Review A•Nov 15, 2000•86 citations

Atomic Bose-Einstein condensate to molecular Bose-Einstein condensate transition

Zhendong Zhang, Liangchao Chen, Kai-Xuan Yao +1 more

Preparation of molecular quantum gas promises novel applications including quantum control of chemical reactions, precision measurements, quantum simulation and quantum information processing. Experimental preparation of colder and denser molecular samples, however, is frequently hindered by fast inelastic collisions that heat and deplete the population. Here we report the formation of two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of spinning $g-$wave molecules by inducing pairing interactions in an atomic condensate. The trap geometry and the low temperature of the molecules help reducing inelastic loss to ensure thermal equilibrium. We determine the molecular scattering length to be $+220(30)$~Bohr and investigate the unpairing dynamics in the strong coupling regime. Our work confirms the long-sought transition between atomic and molecular condensates, the bosonic analog of the BEC-BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schieffer superfluid) crossover in a Fermi gas.

arXiv:2006.15297•Bulletin of the American Physical Society•Jun 27, 2020•2 citations

STIMULATED RAMAN MOLECULE FORMATION IN COLD ALKALI GASES.

Paul S. Julienne, Keith R. Burnett, Y. B. Band +1 more

Photoassociation is a process by which two cold, trapped atoms can be optically excited during a collision to make a vibrational level of an excited electronic state of a molecular dimer. High-resolution photoassociation spectra are now well-known for most alkali dimers. The upper level normally decays by spontaneous emission to a number of final molecular levels, bound and unbound. A laser of a second color can be used to stimulate a transition from the upper level to a particular ground state vibrational level. Such a Raman photoassociation process can be used to form translationally cold molecules in a cold atomic gas or a Bose-Einstein condensate. Coupled channels scattering calculations show that the collisional rate coefficient for coherent production of molecules in specific target states, $> 10^{-10} cm^{3}/s,$ can greatly exceed the rate coefficient for forming products due to excited state spontaneous decay. This implies the feasibility of rapid coherent conversion of atom pairs in a condensate to molecules on a time scale short compared to the trap oscillation time. The untrapped molecules can form a coherent molecular beam. We will examine the prospects for the experimental realization of photoassociative molecule formation in cold alkali gases or condensates.

•Jan 1, 1998•0 citations

Vortices and Solitons in Bose-Condensates

P. D. Drummond

The new science of nonlinear atom optics and atom lasers is evolving rapidly. There are similarities between many related areas in modern photonic and atom optics, particularly at the mean-field level. In both cases we can often use classical nonlinear wave equations to describe classical solitons, vortices, and other nonlinear structure. Atom-molecular coupling can be used to play the role of second-harmonic generation. This leads to novel types of soliton. In addition, quantum effects at low densities are likely to be readily observable.

Modern Physics Letters B•Sep 1, 2000•2 citations
Summary form only given. We consider the quantum theory of two atomic fields interacting coherently to form a molecular field via Raman photoassociation. This can be applied to treat interactions in either atomic Bose condensates or quantum Fermi gases, describing coherent molecule formation together with s-wave scattering This new type of super-chemical reaction (or nonlinear atom optics) has never been observed on Earth-and temperature even in space would be far too hot to observe it naturally. Thus, it would represent a breakthrough into a completely new type of low-temperature physics, only accessible at the temperatures that have been recently obtained experimentally. The theory required is also new, yet surprisingly relatively simple.
Summary form only given. Parametric solitons or simultaneous solitary waves (simultons), involving the optical /spl chi//sup (2)/ nonlinearity, have been the topic of much recent theoretical and experimental interest in nonlinear optics. We propose a novel mechanism by which a similar phenomenon may occur in nonlinear atomic optics, in which coherent molecule formation in a Bose-Einstein condensate takes the place of second harmonic generation. This requires a coupling that converts two atoms into one molecule, thus generating coupled atomic and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates. Our model includes a coherent molecular formation process (i.e., without dissipation) in an atomic BEC vapor, either through a Feshbach resonance or Raman photo-association. The coherently coupled atom-molecular condensate could provide a route to the observation of a localized three-dimensional BEC soliton, even in the absence of a trap potential. A possible application is in the free propagation of a non-diverging atom laser pulse, thus greatly increasing the intensity in an atom laser beam.
We demonstrate complete quantum state transfer of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate to molecular condensate, mediated by solitonic excitations in a cigar shaped mean-field geometry. Starting with a localized solitonic atomic condensate, we show compatible gray solitonic configuration in the molecular condensate, which results in complete atom-molecule conversion. The effect of inter and intra-species interactions on the formation of molecular condensate is explicated in the presence of Raman Photoassociation. It is found that photoassociation plays a crucial role in the coherent atom-molecule conversion as well as in the soliton dynamics. The gray soliton dispersion reveals bistable behaviour, showing a re-entrant phase in a physically accessible parametric domain.
We study coherent photoassociation, phenomena analogous to coherent optical transients in few-level systems, which may take place in photoassociation of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate but not in a nondegenerate gas. We develop a second-quantized Hamiltonian to describe photoassociation, and apply the Hamiltonian both in the momentum representation and in the position representation (field theory). The solution of the two-mode problem, including only one mode each for the atomic and molecular condensates, displays analogs of Rabi oscillations and rapid adiabatic passage. A classical version of the field theory for atoms and molecules is used to demonstrate that, in the presence of photoassociating light, a joint atom-molecule condensate is unstable against the growth of density fluctuations. Experimental complications, including spontaneous emission and unwanted ``rogue'' photodissociation from a photoassociated molecule, are analyzed. A two-color Raman scheme is studied as a method to set up an effective two-mode scheme with reduced spontaneous-emission losses. We discuss photoassociation rates and photoassociation Rabi frequencies for high-lying vibrational states in alkali dimers both on the basis of molecular-structure calculations, and by comparing with an experiment [Wynar et al., Science 287, 1016 (2000)].
Preparation of molecular quantum gas promises novel applications including quantum control of chemical reactions, precision measurements, quantum simulation and quantum information processing. Experimental preparation of colder and denser molecular samples, however, is frequently hindered by fast inelastic collisions that heat and deplete the population. Here we report the formation of two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of spinning g−g-g−wave molecules by inducing pairing interactions in an atomic condensate. The trap geometry and the low temperature of the molecules help reducing inelastic loss to ensure thermal equilibrium. We determine the molecular scattering length to be +220(30)+220(30)+220(30)~Bohr and investigate the unpairing dynamics in the strong coupling regime. Our work confirms the long-sought transition between atomic and molecular condensates, the bosonic analog of the BEC-BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schieffer superfluid) crossover in a Fermi gas.
Photoassociation is a process by which two cold, trapped atoms can be optically excited during a collision to make a vibrational level of an excited electronic state of a molecular dimer. High-resolution photoassociation spectra are now well-known for most alkali dimers. The upper level normally decays by spontaneous emission to a number of final molecular levels, bound and unbound. A laser of a second color can be used to stimulate a transition from the upper level to a particular ground state vibrational level. Such a Raman photoassociation process can be used to form translationally cold molecules in a cold atomic gas or a Bose-Einstein condensate. Coupled channels scattering calculations show that the collisional rate coefficient for coherent production of molecules in specific target states, >10−10cm3/s,> 10^{-10} cm^{3}/s,>10−10cm3/s, can greatly exceed the rate coefficient for forming products due to excited state spontaneous decay. This implies the feasibility of rapid coherent conversion of atom pairs in a condensate to molecules on a time scale short compared to the trap oscillation time. The untrapped molecules can form a coherent molecular beam. We will examine the prospects for the experimental realization of photoassociative molecule formation in cold alkali gases or condensates.
The new science of nonlinear atom optics and atom lasers is evolving rapidly. There are similarities between many related areas in modern photonic and atom optics, particularly at the mean-field level. In both cases we can often use classical nonlinear wave equations to describe classical solitons, vortices, and other nonlinear structure. Atom-molecular coupling can be used to play the role of second-harmonic generation. This leads to novel types of soliton. In addition, quantum effects at low densities are likely to be readily observable.