Avalanches in a Bose-Einstein condensate - art. no. 170404

Authors
Schuster, J Marte, A Amtage, S Sang, B Rempe, G Beijerinck, HCW
Citation
J. Schuster et al., Avalanches in a Bose-Einstein condensate - art. no. 170404, PHYS REV L, 8717(17), 2001, pp. 0404
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
8717
Issue
17
Year of publication
2001
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20011022)8717:17<0404:AIABC->2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Collisional avalanches are identified to be responsible for an 8-fold incre ase of the initial loss rate of a large Rb-87 condensate. We show that the collisional opacity of an ultracold gas exhibits a critical value. When exc eeded, losses due to inelastic collisions are substantially enhanced. Under these circumstances, reaching the hydrodynamic regime in conventional Bose -Einstein condensation experiments is highly questionable.