R. N. Bisset

Quasicondensation and coherence in the quasi-two-dimensional trapped Bose gas

We simulate a trapped quasi-two-dimensional Bose gas using a classical field method. To interpret our results we identify the uniform Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) temperature TBKT as where the system phase-space density satisfies a critical value. We observe that density fluctuations are suppressed in the system well above TBKT when a quasicondensate forms as the first occurrence of degeneracy. At lower temperatures, but still above TBKT, we observe the development of appreciable coherence as a prominent finite-size effect, which manifests as bimodality in the momentum distribution of the system. At TBKT algebraic decay of off-diagonal correlations occurs near the trap center with an exponent of 0.25, as expected for the uniform system. Our results characterize the low-temperature phase diagram for a trapped quasi-two-dimensional Bose gas and are consistent with observations made in recent experiments.

Ground-state phase diagram of a dipolar condensate with quantum fluctuations

We consider the ground state properties of a trapped dipolar condensate under the influence of quantum fluctuations. We show that this system can undergo a phase transition from a low density condensate state to a high density droplet state, which is stabilized by quantum fluctuations. The energetically favored state depends on the geometry of the confining potential, the number of atoms and the two-body interactions. We develop a simple variational ansatz and validate it against full numerical solutions. We produce a phase diagram for the system and present results relevant to current experiments with dysprosium and erbium condensates.

Analysis of the Holzmann-Chevallier-Krauth theory for the trapped quasi-two-dimensional Bose gas

We provide an in depth analysis of the theory proposed by Holzmann, Chevallier and Krauth (HCK) [Europhys. Lett., {\bf 82}, 30001 (2008)] for predicting the temperature at which the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition to a superfluid state occurs in the harmonically trapped quasi-two-dimensional (2D) Bose gas. Their theory is based on a meanfield model of the system density and we show that the HCK predictions change appreciably when an improved meanfield theory and identification of the transition point is used. In this analysis we develop a consistent theory that provides a lower bound for the BKT transition temperature in the trapped quasi-2D Bose gas.

Roton spectroscopy in a harmonically trapped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate

We study a harmonically trapped Bose-Einstein condensate with dipole-dipole interactions in a regime where a roton spectrum emerges. We show that the roton spectrum is clearly revealed in the static and dynamic structure factors which can be measured using Bragg spectroscopy. We develop and validate a theory based on the local density approximation for the dynamic structure factor.

Finite-temperature trapped dipolar Bose gas

Jack Dodd Centre for Quantum Technology, Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.We develop a finite temperature Hartree theory for the trapped dipolar Bose gas. We use this theory to studythermal effects on the mechanical stability of the system and density oscillating condensate states. We presentresults for the stability phase diagram as a function of temperature and aspect ratio. In oblate traps above thecritical temperature for condensation we find that the Hartree theory predicts significant stability enhancementover the semiclassical result. Below the critical temperature we find that thermal effects are well described byaccounting for the thermal depletion of the condensate. Our results also show that density oscillating condensatestates occur over a range of interaction strengths that broadens with increasing temperature.

Quantitative test of the mean-field description of a trapped two-dimensional Bose gas

We investigate the accuracy of two mean-field theories of the trapped two-dimensional Bose gas at predicting transition region properties by comparison to non-perturbative classical field calculations. To make these comparisons we examine the density profiles and the predictions for the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless superfluid transition temperature over a parameter range in which the degree of thermal activation in the tightly trapped direction varies considerably. These results present an important test of these mean-field theories, and provide a characterization of their typical accuracy.

Stability of a trapped dipolar quantum gas

We calculate the stability diagram for a trapped normal Fermi or Bose gas with dipole-dipole interactions. Our study characterizes the roles of trap geometry and temperature on the stability using Hartree-Fock theory. We find that exchange appreciably reduces stability, and that, for bosons, the double instability feature in oblate trapping geometries predicted previously is still predicted by the Hartree-Fock theory. Our results are relevant to current experiments with polar molecules and will be useful in developing strategies to obtain a polar molecule Bose-Einstein condensate or degenerate Fermi gas.

Roton excitations in a trapped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate

We consider the quasi-particle excitations of a trapped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate. By mapping these excitations onto radial and angular momentum we show that the roton modes are clearly revealed as discrete fingers in parameter space, whereas the other modes form a smooth surface. We examine the properties of the roton modes and characterize how they change with the dipole interaction strength. We demonstrate how the application of a perturbing potential can be used to engineer angular rotons, i.e. allowing us to controllably select modes of non-zero angular momentum to become the lowest energy rotons.

Depletion and fluctuations of a trapped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate in the roton regime

We consider the non-condensate density and density fluctuations of a trapped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate, focusing on the regime where a roton-like excitation spectrum develops. Our results show that a characteristic peak in the non-condensate density occurs at trap center due to the rotons. In this regime we also find that the anomalous density becomes positive and peaked, giving rise to enhanced density fluctuations. We calculate the non-condensate density in momentum space and show that a small momentum halo is associated with the roton excitations.

Transition region properties of a trapped quasi-two-dimensional degenerate Bose gas

The c-field simulation technique is used to study a trapped quasi-two dimensional Bose gas. We calculate the central curvature of the system density and fluctuations of the condensate mode in the degenerate regime. These results provide new understanding of the system behavior in the region of the superfluid transition.