Observation of Weak Collapse in a Bose-Einstein Condensate

We study the collapse of an attractive atomic Bose-Einstein condensate prepared in the uniform potential of an optical-box trap.We characterize the critical point for collapse and the collapse dynamics, observing universal behavior in agreement with theoretical expectations.Most importantly, we observe a clear experimental signature of the counterintuitive weak collapse, namely, that making the system more unstable can result in a smaller particle loss.We experimentally determine the scaling laws that govern the weak-collapse atom loss, providing a benchmark for the general theories of nonlinear wave phenomena.We study the collapse of an attractive atomic Bose-Einstein condensate prepared in the uniform potential of an optical-box trap.We characterize the critical point for collapse and the collapse dynamics, observing universal behavior in agreement with theoretical expectations.Most importantly, we observe a clear experimental signature of the counterintuitive weak collapse, namely, that making the system more unstable can result in a smaller particle loss.We experimentally determine the scaling laws that govern the weak-collapse atom loss, providing a benchmark for the general theories of nonlinear wave phenomena.

arXiv:1609.00352Physical Review XDec 19, 201634 citations

Scaling laws governing the collapse of a Bose-Einstein condensate

Sebastian J. Morris, C. J. Ho, Simon M. Fischer +4 more

We study the collapse of an attractive Bose-Einstein condensate, where an unstable system evolves towards a singularity, by numerically solving the underlying cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We find good agreement between our simulations and the atom-loss measurements with a K 39 condensate. Our simulations reveal an interplay of weak collapse and the propensity of the system to form a hotspot and we uncover scaling laws that govern this behavior. We also identify promising signatures of the theoretically predicted, but so far experimentally elusive, elastic three-body interactions.We study the collapse of an attractive Bose-Einstein condensate, where an unstable system evolves towards a singularity, by numerically solving the underlying cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We find good agreement between our simulations and the atom-loss measurements with a K 39 condensate. Our simulations reveal an interplay of weak collapse and the propensity of the system to form a hotspot and we uncover scaling laws that govern this behavior. We also identify promising signatures of the theoretically predicted, but so far experimentally elusive, elastic three-body interactions.

arXiv:2411.19948Physical Review AApr 7, 20251 citation

Collapsing dynamics of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interactions

Hiroki Saito, Masahito Ueda

Summary form only given. Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of trapped atomic vapor has been realized in several atomic species. The static and dynamical properties of BEC crucially depend on the sign of the interatomic interaction. When the interaction is attractive, BEC in a spatially uniform 3D system is unstable to collapse into a denser phase. In a spatially confined system, however, the zero-point energy serves as a kinetic obstacle against collapse, allowing metastable BEC to be formed if the number of BEC atoms is below a certain critical number. Above the critical number of atoms, BEC collapses. The BEC with attractive interactions, therefore, has been restricted to a small number of atoms (/spl sim/1000) and the number has not been controllable.Summary form only given. Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of trapped atomic vapor has been realized in several atomic species. The static and dynamical properties of BEC crucially depend on the sign of the interatomic interaction. When the interaction is attractive, BEC in a spatially uniform 3D system is unstable to collapse into a denser phase. In a spatially confined system, however, the zero-point energy serves as a kinetic obstacle against collapse, allowing metastable BEC to be formed if the number of BEC atoms is below a certain critical number. Above the critical number of atoms, BEC collapses. The BEC with attractive interactions, therefore, has been restricted to a small number of atoms (/spl sim/1000) and the number has not been controllable.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceNov 13, 20020 citations

Power laws and collapsing dynamics of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate with attractive interactions

Hiroki Saito, Masahito Ueda

The critical behavior of collective modes and the collapsing dynamics of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interactions are studied analytically and numerically. The time scales of these dynamics both below and above the critical point of the collapse are found to obey power laws with a single parameter of ${N/N}_{c}\ensuremath{-}1,$ where N is the number of condensate atoms and ${N}_{c}$ is the critical number. The collapsing condensate eventually undergoes rapid implosion, which occurs several times intermittently, and then the implosion turns to an explosion. The release energy of the explosion is found to be proportional to the square of the interaction strength, inversely proportional to the three-body recombination rate, and independent of the number of condensate atoms and the trap frequency.The critical behavior of collective modes and the collapsing dynamics of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interactions are studied analytically and numerically. The time scales of these dynamics both below and above the critical point of the collapse are found to obey power laws with a single parameter of ${N/N}_{c}\ensuremath{-}1,$ where N is the number of condensate atoms and ${N}_{c}$ is the critical number. The collapsing condensate eventually undergoes rapid implosion, which occurs several times intermittently, and then the implosion turns to an explosion. The release energy of the explosion is found to be proportional to the square of the interaction strength, inversely proportional to the three-body recombination rate, and independent of the number of condensate atoms and the trap frequency.

arXiv:cond-mat/0006410Physical Review AMar 5, 200139 citations

Collapse and stable self-trapping for Bose-Einstein condensates with 1/rb -type attractive interatomic interaction potential

Pavel M. Lushnikov

We consider dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates with long-range attractive interaction proportional to $1/{r}^{b}$ and arbitrary angular dependence. It is shown exactly that collapse of a Bose-Einstein condensate without contact interactions is possible only for $b\ensuremath{\geqslant}2$. The case $b=2$ is critical and requires the number of particles to exceed a critical value to allow collapse. The critical collapse in that case is a strong one, trapping into the collapsing region a finite number of particles. The case $b>2$ is supercritical with an expected weak collapse which traps a rapidly decreasing number of particles during approach to collapse. For $b<2$ a singularity at $r=0$ is not strong enough to allow collapse but an attractive $1/{r}^{b}$ interaction admits stable self-trapping (a stable three-dimensional soliton solution) even in the absence of an external trapping potential.We consider dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates with long-range attractive interaction proportional to $1/{r}^{b}$ and arbitrary angular dependence. It is shown exactly that collapse of a Bose-Einstein condensate without contact interactions is possible only for $b\ensuremath{\geqslant}2$. The case $b=2$ is critical and requires the number of particles to exceed a critical value to allow collapse. The critical collapse in that case is a strong one, trapping into the collapsing region a finite number of particles. The case $b>2$ is supercritical with an expected weak collapse which traps a rapidly decreasing number of particles during approach to collapse. For $b<2$ a singularity at $r=0$ is not strong enough to allow collapse but an attractive $1/{r}^{b}$ interaction admits stable self-trapping (a stable three-dimensional soliton solution) even in the absence of an external trapping potential.

arXiv:1002.1469Physical Review AAug 25, 201031 citations

Bose-Einstein Condensation of Atoms in a Uniform Potential

Alexander L. Gaunt, Tobias F. Schmidutz, Igor Gotlibovych +2 more

We have observed the Bose-Einstein condensation of an atomic gas in the (quasi)uniform three-dimensional potential of an optical box trap. Condensation is seen in the bimodal momentum distribution and the anisotropic time-of-flight expansion of the condensate. The critical temperature agrees with the theoretical prediction for a uniform Bose gas. The momentum distribution of a noncondensed quantum-degenerate gas is also clearly distinct from the conventional case of a harmonically trapped sample and close to the expected distribution in a uniform system. We confirm the coherence of our condensate in a matter-wave interference experiment. Our experiments open many new possibilities for fundamental studies of many-body physics.We have observed the Bose-Einstein condensation of an atomic gas in the (quasi)uniform three-dimensional potential of an optical box trap. Condensation is seen in the bimodal momentum distribution and the anisotropic time-of-flight expansion of the condensate. The critical temperature agrees with the theoretical prediction for a uniform Bose gas. The momentum distribution of a noncondensed quantum-degenerate gas is also clearly distinct from the conventional case of a harmonically trapped sample and close to the expected distribution in a uniform system. We confirm the coherence of our condensate in a matter-wave interference experiment. Our experiments open many new possibilities for fundamental studies of many-body physics.

arXiv:1212.4453Physical Review LettersMay 16, 2013780 citations

{N}_{c}

is the critical number. The collapsing condensate eventually undergoes rapid implosion, which occurs several times intermittently, and then the implosion turns to an explosion. The release energy of the explosion is found to be proportional to the square of the interaction strength, inversely proportional to the three-body recombination rate, and independent of the number of condensate atoms and the trap frequency.

We consider dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates with long-range attractive interaction proportional to

1/{r}^{b}

and arbitrary angular dependence. It is shown exactly that collapse of a Bose-Einstein condensate without contact interactions is possible only for $b\ensuremath{\geqslant}2$. The case

b=2

is critical and requires the number of particles to exceed a critical value to allow collapse. The critical collapse in that case is a strong one, trapping into the collapsing region a finite number of particles. The case

b>2

is supercritical with an expected weak collapse which traps a rapidly decreasing number of particles during approach to collapse. For

b<2

a singularity at

r=0

is not strong enough to allow collapse but an attractive

1/{r}^{b}

interaction admits stable self-trapping (a stable three-dimensional soliton solution) even in the absence of an external trapping potential.