Coherence and Optical Properties of Quantum Degenerate Gases

University Of Connecticut, Storrs CT

Investigators

Abstract

In a Bose Einstein condensate (BEC) in a dilute atomic gas all atoms are in the same state. It is planned to study properties of the condensate using methods from quantum optics. These involve issues of coherence, superfluidity, and response to optical excitation. This would include studying the interactions of light with a dense and/or quantum degenerate gas, including the localization of light, and developing a theory for photodissociation of a BEC. The corresponding situation of a dilute degenerate Fermi gas will be investigated.