Reflection of a bose-einstein condensate from an atomic mirror

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

Research objectives and content We propose to study the reflection of a Bose-Einstein condensate of atoms from an atomic mirror. In successive refinements of the theory, we will take into account the roughness of the mirror, the internal structure of the atoms and the interactions between the atoms. The study of such a non-linear system with either a perfectly flat mirrror or a rough mirror is likely to be very interesting and has never been studied before. We plan to confront the theoretical results with an actual experiment currently under preparation in the Atom Optics Group at the Institut d'Optique in Orsay Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) The group in Orsay has done theoretical work and performed several experiments involving reflection of slow atoms on an atomic mirror and is developing a facility for the production of Bose-Einstein condensates. It would be a great opportunity for the candidate (who has experience in atomic physics and quantum optics) to to collaborate with the atom optics group on this project. The combination of a careful theoretical study with the experiments possible in Orsay should make an important contribution to atom optics. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22) The Orsay group has contacts with several industrial groups (Thomson CSF, SAGEM) especially in connection with their work using atoms to probe the roughnes of glass surfaces. The coherent carachter of a Bose-Einstein condensate makes it very sensitive to the details of the mirror surface, turning it into a tool for the study of its roughness.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE · PARISCoordinatorFrance

Links

• View on CORDIS