Quantum Field Theory of BECs

J. Rogel-Salazar, Seok Jin Choi, G.H.C. New +1 more

In this tutorial we present an introduction to some theoretical methods of quantum field theory applied to the description of a trapped Bose–Einstein condensate. First of all, we give a brief account of the main characteristics of the phenomenon of condensation and present the many-body Hamiltonian of the system. We outline some of the most important approaches used in the characterization of a condensed Bose gas, including the mean-field theory and the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov method. Finally we illustrate the use of these techniques addressing some important issues in quantum atom optics. We characterize the quantum state of a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) at zero temperature. We also describe a process of Beliaev coupling between quasiparticles using a method that includes terms beyond the usual Bogoliubov approach.

M. Kira

Sebastian Wüster

We study the application of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) to simulations of phenomena across a number of disciplines in physics, using theoretical and computational methods. ¶ ...

R. J. Rivers, D.-S. Lee, Chi-Yong Lin

Martin Dunn, W. Blake Laing, D. K. Watson +1 more

M. Mine, Tomoi Koide C, Masahiko Okumura +1 more

The dynamical response of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is formulated consistently with quantum field theory and is numerically evaluated. We regard the BEC as a manifestation of the breaking of the global phase symmetry. Then, the Goldstone theorem implies the existence of a zero energy excitation mode (the zero-mode). We calculate the effect of the zero-mode on the response frequency and show that the contribution of the zero-mode to the first excitation mode is not so important in the parameter set realized in the existing experiment. This is the reason that experimental results can be described using the Bogoliubov prescription, although it breaks the consistency of the description in quantum field theory.