Kinetics of Bose-Einstein Condensation in a Trap

C. W. Gardiner, P. Zoller, R. J. Ballagh, and M. J. Davis
Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 1793 – Published 8 September 1997
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

The formation process of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a trap is described using a master equation based on quantum kinetic theory, which can be well approximated by a description using only the condensate mode in interaction with a thermalized bath of noncondensate atoms. A rate equation of the form ṅ=2W+(n)[1e{μnμ}/kTn+1] is derived, in which the difference between the condensate chemical potential μn and the bath chemical potential μ gives the essential behavior. Solutions of this equation give a characteristic latency period for condensate formation and appear to be consistent with the observed behavior of both rubidium and sodium condensate formation.

  • Received 2 May 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.1793

©1997 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. W. Gardiner1, P. Zoller2, R. J. Ballagh3, and M. J. Davis3

  • 1Physics Department, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand
  • 2Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  • 3Physics Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 79, Iss. 10 — 8 September 1997

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×