Abstract
We present a variational Monte Carlo formulation for the universal equations of state at the van der Waals length scale [B. Gao, J. Phys. B 37, L227 (2004)] for Bose atoms in a trap. The theory illustrates both how such equations of state can be computed exactly, and the existence and the importance of long-range atom-atom correlation under strong confinement. Explicit numerical results are presented for and 5, and used to provide a quantitative understanding of the shape-dependent confinement correction that is important for few atoms under strong confinement.
- Received 9 March 2006
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.73.063619
©2006 American Physical Society