Variational analysis of atom-molecule Bose-Einstein condensates coupled through a Feshbach resonance

Eddy Timmermans, Paolo Tommasini, Robin Côté +2 more

Recently, effects of Feshbach resonances in atom-atom interactions were observed by varying the external magnetic field of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). We point out that the quasi-bound molecules created in the intermediate state of the resonance can form a second, molecular condensate. The many-body state of the system is then a hybrid atomic/molecular condensate with inter-condensate tunneling of atom pairs. A sudden variation of the magnetic field results in oscillations of the number of atoms and molecules in their respective condensates, providing a signature of this novel type of quantum tunneling.

E.A.H. Timmermans

JM Johnny Vogels

Michael P. Köppinger, Philip D. Gregory, Daniel L. Jenkin +3 more

We investigate magnetoassociation of ultracold Feshbach molecules from a Bose-Einstein condensate of Cs atoms and explore the spectrum of weakly bound molecular states close to the atomic threshold. By exploiting the variation of magnetic field experienced by a molecular cloud falling in the presence of a magnetic field gradient, we demonstrate the repeated output coupling of molecules from a single atomic cloud using a Feshbach resonance at 19.89 G. Using this method we are able to produce up to 24 separate pulses of molecules from a single atomic condensate, with a molecular pulse created every 7.2 ms. Furthermore, by careful control of the magnetic bias field and gradient we are able to utilise an avoided crossing in the bound state spectrum at 13.3 G to demonstrate exquisite control over the dynamics of the molecular clouds.

S. Inouye, Michael R. Andrews, J. Stenger +3 more

Vladimir Yurovsky

Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is considered under conditions of Feshbach resonance in two-atom collisions due to a coupling of atomic pair and resonant molecular states. The association of condensate atoms can form a molecular BEC, and the molecules can dissociate to pairs of entangled atoms in two-mode squeezed states. Both entanglement and squeezing can be applied to quantum measurements and information processing. The processes in the atom-molecule quantum gas are analyzed using two theoretical approaches. The mean-field one takes into account deactivating collisions of resonant molecules with other atoms and molecules, neglecting quantum fluctuations. This method allows analysis of inhomogeneous systems, such as expanding BEC. The non-mean-field approach -- the parametric approximation -- takes into account both deactivation and quantum fluctuations. This method allows determination of optimal conditions for formation of molecular BEC and describes Bose-enhanced dissociation of molecular BEC, as well as entanglement and squeezing of the non-condensate atoms.