Measurements of collective collapse in a Bose-Einstein condensate with attractive interactions

Authors
Sackett, CA Gerton, JM Welling, M Hulet, RG
Citation
Ca. Sackett et al., Measurements of collective collapse in a Bose-Einstein condensate with attractive interactions, PHYS REV L, 82(5), 1999, pp. 876-879
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
82
Issue
5
Year of publication
1999
Pages
876 - 879
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(19990201)82:5<876:MOCCIA>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
The occupation number of a magnetically trapped Bose-Einstein condensate is limited for atoms with attractive interactions. It has been predicted that , as this limit is approached, the condensate will collapse by a collective process. The measured spread in condensate number for samples of Li-7 atom s undergoing thermal equilibration is consistent with the occurrence of suc h collapses.