Disordered Bose-Einstein Condensates in Quasi One-Dimensional Magnetic Microtraps
arXiv:cond-mat/0307402 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.076802
Abstract
We analyze effects of a random magnetic potential in a microfabricated waveguide for ultra-cold atoms. We find that the shape and position fluctuations of a current carrying wire induce strongly disordered potential that is quasiperiodic with a lengthscale set by the atom-wire separation. The theory is used to explain quantitatively the experimentally observed fragmentation of the quasi one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates. Furthermore, we show that nonlinear dynamics can be used to provide important insights into the nature of the strongly fragmented condensates. We argue that a quantum phase transition from the superfluid to the insulating Bose glass phase may be reached and detected under the realistic experimental conditions.
Revised version. This paper has been selected for the March 1, 2004 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology (http://www.vjnano.org)