A Program in Ultra-Low Temperature Atomic Physics

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

This experimental research program will use ultra low-temperature atomic physics with the goal of exploring new phenomena in many-body physics. The main themes of the proposed research are ultra cold fermions, Feshbach resonances, fermion-boson mixtures, molecules, quantum reflection, lower dimensional systems, and optical lattices. The group wants to advance further to address heteronuclear molecules made of bosons and fermions, or two different fermions. Advances in cold atom technology will accompany these scientific goals. A major planned extension is the simultaneous cooling and trapping of fermionic lithium and potassium. This may lead to a Bose-Einstein condensate of polar molecules and therefore a quantum fluid with anisotropic interactions. The broader impact of the program involves education of students.