Ultracold Gases

Our research programmes in cold atoms and molecules are both theoretical and experimental and range from developing methods for cooling, trapping to utilising cold atoms for understanding quantum chaos and statistical physics. We also study ultracold Bose and Fermi gases and their interactions.

Cooling atoms and molecules: We are exploring new methods for creating cold atoms and molecules. This includes cavity cooling, optical Stark deceleration for the creation of slow cold molecules and sympathetic cooling of molecules with cold atoms . Cold atoms trapped in periodic potentials (optical lattices) can be used to mimic the random motions of systems in equilibrium with a thermal bath.  Directed (ratchet) motion and a Brownian motor has been realised using these systems (Barker , Jones, Renzoni).

Quantum dynamics and chaos:  We investigate the theory for quantum dynamics of systems subjected to time periodic driving. Quantum chaos using cold atoms is one area of interest: eg, new examples of quantum suppression of chaotic diffusion; new types of quantum chaotic ratchets; the stability of BECs in these regimes. The  possibilities for manipulation of phase transitions by cold  atoms in optical lattices are also studied (Monteiro, Jones).

Ultracold Bose and Fermi gases:  Many-particle descriptions of pairing via Feshbach resonances are studied, as well as the production and probing of exotic few-body molecules, and photoassociation using coherent control. (Kohler).

To learn more about our work please follow the links below:

• Cold molecules and molecular optics (Barker)
  
• Ultracold atoms laboratory (Renzoni)
• Quantum dynamics and quantum chaos (Monteiro)
• Theoretical studies of ultracold collisions and molecules (Kohler)
• Cold matter and optical trapping group (Barker, Jones, Renzoni)