Scattering of identical atoms from a Bose-Einstein condensate

M. Bijlsma, Henk T. C. Stoof

We consider scattering atoms from a fully Bose-Einstein condensed gas. If we take these atoms to be identical to those in the Bose-Einstein condensate, this scattering process is to a large extent analogous to Andreev reflection from the interface between a superconducting and a normal metal. We determine the scattering wave function in both the absence and the presence of a vortex. Our results show a qualitative difference between these two cases that can be understood as due to an Aharonov-Bohm effect. It leads to the possibility to experimentally study vortices in a nondestructive way.

S. Inouye, A. P. Chikkatur, Dan Stamper-Kurn +3 more

Fabio Lingua, Luca Lepori, F. Minardi +2 more

Uffe V. Poulsen, Klaus Mølmer

We study the scattering properties of a Bose-Einstein condensate held in a finite depth well when the incoming particles are identical to the ones in the condensate. We calculate phase shifts and corresponding transmission and reflection coefficients, and we show that the transmission times can be negative, i.e., the atomic wave packet seemingly leaves the condensate before it arrives.

Mark Edwards

E. V. Orlenko, Boris G. Matisov

The subject of consideration is coherent amplification of a beam of impurity atoms inelastically scattered by a system of ultracold atoms with collectively excited modes. A kinematic model of weak localization of a new type is used that provides a straightforward explanation for this phenomenon and also makes it possible to derive the angular dependences of the scattering intensity. Based on this model, angular and energy criteria for the existence of the new-type weak localization in an ultracold system of atoms (the Bose-Einstein condensate) are determined. Particular emphasis is on how the principle of indistinguishability influences the weak localization of a beam of atoms inelastically scattered by the Bose-Einstein condensate when scattered and condensed atoms are identical.