Three-Body Atomic Recombination in Bose-Einstein Condensates

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Norman OK

Investigators

Abstract

It is intended to provide a theoretical framework and numerical tools for solving the three body recombination problem and other related processes. This is the situation in which three atoms simultaneously collide, forming an atom and a diatomic molecule, with some of the energy liberated transferred to the rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom of the molecule, the remainder to translational kinetic energy. An important application occurs in Bose-Einstein condensation, where losses from the trap due to three body recombination limit the density achievable in condensates.