Phase coherence and superfluid-insulator transition in a disordered Bose-Einstein condensate

Yong P. Chen, J. Hitchcock, D. Dries, M. Junker, C. Welford, and R. G. Hulet
Phys. Rev. A 77, 033632 – Published 31 March 2008

Abstract

We have studied the effects of a disordered optical potential on the transport and phase coherence of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of L7i atoms. At moderate disorder strengths (VD), we observe inhibited transport and damping of dipole excitations, while in time-of-flight images, random but reproducible interference patterns are observed. In situ images reveal that the appearance of interference is correlated with density modulation, without complete fragmentation. At higher VD, the interference contrast diminishes as the BEC fragments into multiple pieces with little phase coherence.

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  • Received 26 October 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.77.033632

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Yong P. Chen1,2,*, J. Hitchcock1, D. Dries1, M. Junker1, C. Welford1, and R. G. Hulet1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
  • 2The Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA

  • *Current address: Purdue University, 525 Northwestern Ave., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

See Also

Density modulations in an elongated Bose-Einstein condensate released from a disordered potential

D. Clément, P. Bouyer, A. Aspect, and L. Sanchez-Palencia
Phys. Rev. A 77, 033631 (2008)

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Vol. 77, Iss. 3 — March 2008

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