Ultracold molecules from ultracold atoms : interactions in sodium and lithium gas
Name
773207580-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
20.73 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
782104acd369a4d7839ae2e317bc7aef
Author(s)
Christensen, Caleb A
Advisor(s)
Wolfgang Ketterle and David E. Pritchard.
Date Issued
2011
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The thesis presents results from experiments in which ultracold Sodium-6 and Lithium-23 atomic gases were studied near a Feshbach resonance at high magnetic fields. The enhanced interactions between atoms in the presence of a molecular state enhance collisions, leading to inelastic decay and loss, many-body dynamics, novel quantum phases, and molecule formation. Experimental data is presented alongside relevant theory and numerical models. Results are presented for both homonuclear Na 2 and Li 2 molecules, as well as heteronuclear NaLi resonances, although we were unable to isolate and measure NaLi molecules. Furthermore, experiments and theories related to strongly-correlated quantum phases such as Stoner model ferromagnetism, Bose mediated Fermi interactions, and Bose-Fermi mixtures are presented as applicable to Na and Li gases. Conclusions are presented regarding the feasibility of producing deeply bound, dipolar NaLi molecules, as well as future prospects for strongly interacting atomic gases of Na and Li.
Description
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 218-226).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Persistent DSpace Link
