R. J. Ballagh

Dynamics and statistical mechanics of ultra-cold Bose gases using c-field techniques

We review phase-space techniques based on the Wigner representation that provide an approximate description of dilute ultra-cold Bose gases. In this approach the quantum field evolution can be represented using equations of motion of a similar form to the Gross–Pitaevskii equation but with stochastic modifications that include quantum effects in a controlled degree of approximation. These techniques provide a practical quantitative description of both equilibrium and dynamical properties of Bose gas systems. We develop versions of the formalism appropriate at zero temperature, where quantum fluctuations can be important, and at finite temperature where thermal fluctuations dominate. The numerical techniques necessary for implementing the formalism are discussed in detail, together with methods for extracting observables of interest. Numerous applications to a wide range of phenomena are presented.

Nucleation, growth, and stabilization of Bose-Einstein condensate vortex lattices.

We give a simple unified theory of vortex nucleation and vortex lattice formation which is valid from the initiation process up to the final stabilization of the lattice. We treat the growth of vortex lattices from a rotating thermal cloud, and their production using a rotating trap. We find results consistent with previous work on the critical velocity or critical angular velocity for vortex formation, and predict the initial number of vortices expected before their self assembly into a lattice. We show that the thermal cloud plays a crucial role in the process of vortex lattice nucleation.

Coherent Dynamics of Vortex Formation in Trapped Bose-Einstein Condensates

Simulations of a rotationally stirred condensate show that a regime of simple behaviour occurs in which a single vortex cycles in and out of the condensate. We present a simple quantitative model of this behaviour, which accurately describes the full vortex dynamics, including a critical angular speed of stirring for vortex formation. A method for experimentally preparing a condensate in a central vortex state is suggested.

Quantum turbulence in condensate collisions: an application of the classical field method.

We apply the classical field method to simulate the production of correlated atoms during the collision of two Bose-Einstein condensates. Our nonperturbative method includes the effect of quantum noise, and describes collisions of high density condensates with very large out-scattered fractions. Quantum correlation functions for the scattered atoms show that the correlation between pairs of atoms of opposite momentum is rather small. We also predict the existence of quantum turbulence in the field of the scattered atoms.

Theory of coherent Bragg spectroscopy of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate

We present a detailed theoretical analysis of Bragg spectroscopy from a Bose-Einstein condensate at

On Redistribution and the Equations for Radiative Transfer

T=0 \mathrm{K}.

Quantum turbulence and correlations in Bose-Einstein condensate collisions

We demonstrate that within the linear-response regime, both a quantum-field-theory treatment and a mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii treatment lead to the same value for the mean evolution of the quasiparticle operators. The observable for Bragg spectroscopy experiments, which is the spectral response function of the momentum transferred to the condensate, can therefore be calculated in a mean-field formalism. We analyze the behavior of this observable by carrying out numerical simulations in axially symmetric three-dimensional cases and in two dimensions. An approximate analytic expression for the observable is obtained and provides a means for identifying the relative importance of three broadening and shift mechanisms (mean field, Doppler, and finite pulse duration) in different regimes. We show that the suppression of scattering at small values of q observed by Stamper-Kurn et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2876 (1999)] is accounted for by the mean-field treatment, and can be interpreted in terms of the interference of the u and

Three-dimensional vortex dynamics in Bose-Einstein condensates

v

Dynamics of thermal Bose fields in the classical limit

quasiparticle amplitudes. We also show that, contrary to the assumptions of previous analyses, there is no regime for trapped condensates for which the spectral response function and the dynamic structure factor are equivalent. Our numerical calculations can also be performed outside the linear-response regime, and show that at large laser intensities a significant decrease in the shift of the spectral response function can occur due to depletion of the initial condensate.

Formation of fundamental structures in Bose - Einstein condensates

The derivation of the equations of statistical equilibrium are outlined, starting from the quantum density-matrix equations, drawing particular attention to the approximations and assumptions used in the development of tractable expressions. Then, using the quantum-fluctuation-regression theorem, emission and absorption coefficients are obtained for multilevel atomic systems which are nondegenerate except for m-substates. These coefficients are valid to first order in the incident intensity. Possible extensions to higher intensity broadband incoherent fields are suggested.