Observation of Feshbach resonances in a Bose-Einstein condensate

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 392; no. 6672; pp. 151 - 154
• Main Authors: Ketterle, W, Inouye, S, Andrews, M. R, Stenger, J, Miesner, H.-J, Stamper-Kurn, D. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing 12-03-1998; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular collision processes and interactions; Atomic and molecular physics; Atoms & subatomic particles; Bose-Einstein condensates; Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields; Condensates; Condensation; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Inelastic scattering; Magnetic fields; Magnetic resonance; Matter waves; Phase coherent atomic ensembles ; quantum condensation phenomena; Physics; Scattering; Scattering of atoms, molecules and ions; Sodium; Hyperfine structure; Atom-atom collisions; Sodium; Magnetic traps; Theoretical study; Laser cooling; Experimental study; Quasibound states; Feshbach resonance; Bose-Einstein condensation
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/32354

It has long been predicted that the scattering of ultracold atoms can be altered significantly through a so-called 'Feshbach resonance'. Two such resonances have now been observed in optically trapped Bose-Einstein condensates of sodium atoms by varying an external magnetic field. They gave rise to enhanced inelastic processes and a dispersive variation of the scattering length by a factor of over ten. These resonances open new possibilities for the study and manipulation of Bose-Einstein condensates.