[local physicists] Colloquium Announcement Dr. Phil Johnson (1/31/2012)

[Malin, Delicia M.]

Old Dominion University
Department of Physics

Spring Colloquium Series

Tuesday January 31, 2012

"Quantum Collapse and Revival of Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices"


Dr. Phil Johnson
American University

An optical lattice is a force field of light created by counter-propagating laser beams which can suspend arrays of ultracold atoms much like eggs are held in an egg carton. It is possible to load lattices with equilibrium states where single atoms occupy distinct wells, or where atoms behave collectively like a superfluid and, in some sense, occupy many lattice wells simultaneously. I will describe our investigations of the dynamics of even stranger nonequilibrium states of atoms which oscillate in time between being a superfluid and an incoherent classical gas. Our studies reveal universal properties of low-energy interactions between trapped bosons, and also probe the cross-over between quantum and classical physics. Finally, I will also describe our efforts toward designing new types of quantum sensors based on the nonlinear dynamics of ultracold atoms trapped in lattices.


Presentation: Physical Sciences Building II 1100 @ 3:00 pm
Refreshments: 1st Floor Atrium @ 2:30 pm

More details at http://www.physics.odu.edu
All are Welcome!


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