Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:cond-mat/0505732 · Physical Review Letters

Atom-Molecule Dark States in a Bose-Einstein Condensate

Klaus Winkler, Gregor Thalhammer, Maximilian Theis, Helmut Ritsch, Rudolf Grimm, Johannes Hecker Denschlag

Published Aug 5, 2005• 171 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We have created a dark quantum superposition state of a Rb Bose-Einstein condensate and a degenerate gas of Rb2 ground-state molecules in a specific rovibrational state using two-color photo-association. As a signature for the decoupling of this coherent atom-molecule gas from the light field, we observe a striking suppression of photo-association loss. In our experiment the maximal molecule population in the dark state is limited to about 100 Rb2 molecules due to laser induced decay. The experimental findings can be well described by a simple three mode model.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.95.063202

Related papers

Spinor atom-molecule conversion via laser-induced three-body recombination

Hui Jing, Yuangang Deng, Pierre Meystre

We study the theory of several aspects of the dynamics of coherent atom-molecule conversion in spin-one Bose-Einstein condensates. Specifically, we discuss how, for a suitable dark-state condition, the interplay of spin-exchange collisions and photo association leads to the stable creation of an atom-molecule pair from three initial spin-zero atoms. This process involves two two-body interactions and can be intuitively viewed as an effective three-body recombination. We investigate the relative roles of photo association and of the initial magnetization in the ``resonant'' case, where the dark-state condition is perfectly satisfied. We also consider the ``nonresonant'' case, where that condition is satisfied either only approximately---the so-called adiabatic case---or not at all. In the adiabatic case, we derive an effective nonrigid pendulum model that allows one to conveniently discuss the onset of an antiferromagnetic instability in an ``atom-molecule pendulum,'' as well as large-amplitude pair oscillations and atom-molecule entanglement.

arXiv:1102.1696•Physical Review A•Apr 1, 2011•3 citations

Coherent Superposition States of Atoms and Molecules in a Bose-Einstein Condensate with Exactly Balanced Photo-Associations and Photo-Dissociations

Xiaoxue Yang, Ying Wu

We show that there exist a series of coherent superposition states of atoms and molecules in a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate with exactly balanced photo-associations and photo-dissociations, and their analytical expressions are explicitly given. They also correspond to the coherent superposition states of two kinds of photons in optical second harmonic generation processes, which shows exactly balanced down- and up-conversions.

Chinese Physics Letters•Jan 23, 2003•11 citations

Coherent Superposition States of Atoms and Molecules in a Bose—Einstein Condensate with Exactly Bananced Photo—Associations and Photo—Dissociations

杨晓雪, 吴颖

We show that there exist a series of coherent superposition states of atoms and molecules in a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate with exactly balanced photo-associations and photo-dissociations,and their analytical expressions are explicitly given.They also correspond to the coherent superposition states of two kinds of hpotons in optical second harmonic generation processes,which shows exactly balaced down-and up-conversions.

Chinese Physics Letters•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations

Macroscopic Atom-Molecule Dark State and Its Collective Excitations in Fermionic Systems

Andrew J. Robertson, Lei Jiang, Han Pu +2 more

We show that a robust macroscopic atom-molecule dark state can exist in fermionic systems, which represents a coherent superposition between the ground molecular Bose-Einstein condensates and the atomic BCS paired state. We take advantage of the tunability offered by external laser fields, and explore this superposition for demonstrating coherent oscillations between ground molecules and atom pairs. We interpret the oscillation frequencies in terms of the collective excitations of the dark state.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 18, 2007•10 citations

Quantum state transfer from light to molecules via coherent two-color photo-association in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate

Hui Jing, Mingsheng Zhan

arXiv:quant-ph/0512149•The European Physical Journal D•Jan 16, 2007•4 citations

Coherent Photo-Association in Double-Well Bose–Einstein Condensates

Jing Hui, Mo‐Lin Ge, Yuzhu Wang

We investigate the quantum dynamics and statistics of an interesting system of the double-well Bose–Einstein condensates in the presence of a coherent photo-association process occurring in one of the two wells. Through the analytical solutions of a simplified model of the atom–molecule condensate, our results show the important impact of initial state preparations on the atomic coherence, especially the different squeezing behaviour for the case of photo-association via left-well atoms tunnelling from initial right-well atomic condensate, which holds the promise to be observed in the present laboratory.

Chinese Physics Letters•Dec 1, 2003•2 citations
We have created a dark quantum superposition state of a Rb Bose-Einstein condensate and a degenerate gas of Rb2 ground-state molecules in a specific rovibrational state using two-color photo-association. As a signature for the decoupling of this coherent atom-molecule gas from the light field, we observe a striking suppression of photo-association loss. In our experiment the maximal molecule population in the dark state is limited to about 100 Rb2 molecules due to laser induced decay. The experimental findings can be well described by a simple three mode model.
We study the theory of several aspects of the dynamics of coherent atom-molecule conversion in spin-one Bose-Einstein condensates. Specifically, we discuss how, for a suitable dark-state condition, the interplay of spin-exchange collisions and photo association leads to the stable creation of an atom-molecule pair from three initial spin-zero atoms. This process involves two two-body interactions and can be intuitively viewed as an effective three-body recombination. We investigate the relative roles of photo association and of the initial magnetization in the ``resonant'' case, where the dark-state condition is perfectly satisfied. We also consider the ``nonresonant'' case, where that condition is satisfied either only approximately---the so-called adiabatic case---or not at all. In the adiabatic case, we derive an effective nonrigid pendulum model that allows one to conveniently discuss the onset of an antiferromagnetic instability in an ``atom-molecule pendulum,'' as well as large-amplitude pair oscillations and atom-molecule entanglement.
We show that a robust macroscopic atom-molecule dark state can exist in fermionic systems, which represents a coherent superposition between the ground molecular Bose-Einstein condensates and the atomic BCS paired state. We take advantage of the tunability offered by external laser fields, and explore this superposition for demonstrating coherent oscillations between ground molecules and atom pairs. We interpret the oscillation frequencies in terms of the collective excitations of the dark state.
We investigate the quantum dynamics and statistics of an interesting system of the double-well Bose–Einstein condensates in the presence of a coherent photo-association process occurring in one of the two wells. Through the analytical solutions of a simplified model of the atom–molecule condensate, our results show the important impact of initial state preparations on the atomic coherence, especially the different squeezing behaviour for the case of photo-association via left-well atoms tunnelling from initial right-well atomic condensate, which holds the promise to be observed in the present laboratory.