ULTRACOLD COLLISIONS · MOLECULAR COLLISIONS IN ULTRACOLD TRAPPED GASES
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-01-01 → 2006-08-31
- EU contribution
- €150,804
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EIF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - ULTRACOLD COLLISIONS (Molecular collisions in ultracold trapped gases)
In this project we investigated molecular collisions in a gas at extremely low temperatures. Under such conditions even extremely weak forces, known as spin interactions, have a dramatic influence on the particles' dynamics. We developed theoretical methods necessary to describe very accurately this kind of phenomena and developed the corresponding computer programmes to perform quantitative calculations. We showed that, for many systems of main experimental interest, i.e. the alkali metal systems, the collision could not be efficiently manipulated by static external field. However, regular structures formed at the intersection of laser beams could be designed in order to control the molecular dynamics on a microscopic level. This was a result of major fundamental and applicative interest. A different numerical approach had to be developed for the study of more exotic atom-molecule systems, in which the molecule had an extremely large size. The method was based on the large velocity difference between the region of close approach of atom and molecule and the region on which the collision partners were far apart and only exerted a weak mutual influence. This approach was used for one-dimensional systems and it should be possible to extend it to higher dimensionality. Finally, we also provided theoretical data to interpret experiments performed with very cold atoms as they were associated into molecules by a magnetic field, developing extremely accurate collision models.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
This project aims at characterizing ultracold atom-molecule collisions using state-of-the-art theoretical and computational methods.Several leading groups in Europe (ENS, Garching, and Innsbruck) and in the USA (JILA, MIT, Rice and Stanford) have the capability to produce molecular gases at extremely low temperatures.The emerging field of cold molecules is multinational and highly interdisciplinary, uniting ideas of molecular physics, solid-state theory, and quantum optics. These ultracold gases are very promising for applications, such as realization of novel phase transitions, coherent chemistry, and implementation of quantum gates, whose social impact may well extend far beyond current projections. Molecular collisions play a key role in the physics of cold molecular gases, and their study is expected to be of strategic value for the advance of the field.It suffices to mention here that development of efficient cooling schemes, production of stable Bose-Einstein condensates and control over elastic and inelastic processes all rely on accurate characterization of ultracold collisional processes. Although the study of ultracold collisions in many systems of wide experimental interest is very challenging, the applicant Dr. A. Simoni and the proposed host Prof. J.-M. Launay have ideal complimentary competences to approach this study.Advanced training on numerical analisys and computational techniques for molecular scattering will put the applicant in a privileged position to pursue independent studies in a strongly expanding field, with the ultimate goal to obtain a permanent position in a national research institution.Dr. Simoni is currently a guest researcher in a leader technological institution (NIST) in the USA and the fellowship will offer him the opportunity to re-enter the EU. He has strong connections with different European laboratories and will eventually act as an interface between them, contributing to structuring the ERA.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE · PARISCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union