Düsseldorf 2007 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 21: Quanteneffekte (Offene und Wenigteilchensysteme)
Q 21.5: Talk
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 11:30–11:45, 5E
Repulsively bound atom paris in an optical lattice — Gregor Thalhammer1, Klaus Winkler1, •Florian Lang1, Rudolf Grimm1,3, Johannes Hecker Denschlag1, Andrew Daley2,3, Adrian Kantian2,3, Hans Peter Büchler2,3, and Peter Zoller2,3 — 1Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Österreich — 2Institut für Theoretische Pysik, Universität Innsbruck, Österreich — 3Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Innsbruck, Österreich
Throughout physics, stable composite objects are usually formed by way of attractive forces, which allow the constituents to lower their energy by binding together. Repulsive forces separate particles in free space. However, in a structured environment such as a periodic potential and in the absence of dissipation, stable composite objects can exist even for repulsive interactions. We have recently1 observed such an exotic bound state, which comprises a pair of ultracold rubidium atoms in an optical lattice. Consistent with our theoretical analysis, these repulsively bound pairs exhibit long lifetimes, even under conditions when they collide with one another. Signatures of the pairs are also recognized in the characteristic momentum distribution and through spectroscopic measurements. There is no analogue in traditional condensed matter systems of such repulsively bound pairs, owing to the presence of strong decay channels.
[1] Nature 441, 853 (2006)