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Physics World

Making strings in the lab

Published Jun 1, 2005• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Theoretical physicists in the Netherlands have proposed a way to make superstrings in the laboratory by exploiting the properties of ultracold atomic gases. If their idea can be put into practice, it would allow aspects of string theory to be tested in an experiment for the first time (arXiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0505055).
DOI
10.1088/2058-7058/18/6/1

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The combination of a vortex line in a one-dimensional optical lattice with fermions bound to the vortex core makes up an ultracold superstring. We give a detailed derivation of the way to make this supersymmetric string in the laboratory. In particular, we discuss the presence of a fermionic bound state in the vortex core and the tuning of the laser beams needed to achieve supersymmetry. Moreover, we discuss experimental consequences of supersymmetry and identify the precise supersymmetry in the problem. Finally, we make the mathematical connection with string theory.
We propose a setup with ultracold atomic gases that can be used to make a nonrelativistic superstring in four spacetime dimensions. In particular, we consider for the creation of the superstring a fermionic atomic gas that is trapped in the core of a vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate. We explain the required tuning of experimental parameters to achieve supersymmetry between the fermionic atoms and the bosonic modes describing the oscillations in the vortex position. Furthermore, we discuss the experimental consequences of supersymmetry.
The Field of ultracold quantum gases is no longer in its infancy. Since the first gaseous Bose–Einstein condensate was formed in 1995, physicists have made an exhaustive study of the many amazing properties of this new state of matter. Similar progress has been made with degenerate Fermigases – the quantum-mechanical cousins of Bose condensates. In addition to being fascinating in their own right, experiments on quantum gases are relevant to many different areas of physics – from atomic clocks and quantum computing to superfluidity and quantum phase transitions.
Physicists are getting closer and closer to the holy grail of research into ultracold atomic gases – the observation of superfluidity in a Fermi gas. Research groups in Austria and the US have recently taken a major step towards this goal by creating a Bose–Einstein condensate of bosonic molecules from a gas of fermionic atoms. If the atoms can be persuaded to form weakly bound pairs, rather than molecules, physicists hope to learn more about the basic mechanisms responsible for superconductivity.