Many Body Physics of Cold Atomic Gases

Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Investigators

Abstract

This proposal describes a theoretical study of important problems in the many body physics of cold atoms and related systems. Building on previous work, the investigator will explore several topical subjects, including (1) properties of a Fermi gas near a Feshbach resonance; (2) spectra of atomic hydrogen on Helium surfaces and embedded in a molecular hydrogen matrix; and (3)dynamics of tuning the interaction strength for atoms trapped in a strong optical lattice. These projects are motivated by (i) interest in fundamental physical properties of cold atoms, (ii) desires to use cold atoms as a model system to understand other many body systems, and (iii) puzzles found in ongoing experiments. Studying cold atoms has impact on many body problems in condensed matter and nuclear physics.