Frankfurt 2006 – scientific programme

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SYDG: Ultracold dipolar Gases

SYDG 2: Ultracold dipolar gases II

SYDG 2.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 16, 2006, 14:00–14:45, HV

Investigation of dipole-dipole interaction in a chromium Bose-Einstein condensate — •Jürgen Stuhler — 5. Physikalisches Institut, UniversitätStuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, D-70550 Stuttgart

Based on the long-range and anisotropic character of dipole-dipole interactions, many exciting phenomena have been predicted to occur in dipolar quantum gases. To investigate them, we have realized a chromium Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of up to 100,000 condensed atoms within a crossed optical dipole trap. The large magnetic moment of chromium gives rise to strong magnetic dipole-dipole interaction (MDDI) that becomes comparable to the isotropic and short-range contact interaction. In agreement with theory of dipolar quantum gases, the MDDI manifests itself in an anisotropic deformation of the expanding Cr-BEC that depends on the orientation of the atomic dipole moments. Using Feshbach resonances to tailor the contact interaction or spinning magnetic fields to tune the MDDI, it is expected that interaction regimes from mainly contact to mainly dipolar can be adjusted.