Mueller Research Group

Department of Physics

Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics

Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY • 14853

em256@cornell.edu • (607)255-1568

Ultracold Atom Theory

Overview

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News from our Group

  • New preprints and publications: 14 publications in 2010, and several more preprints. (more)
  • Our work cited as runner-up for "breakthrough of the year" by Science Magazine (more)
  • Research

    [ Ultracold GasesVortices and Topological DefectsBEC-BCS CrossoverRF SpectroscopyPublicationsPresentations ]
    simulation of interference between atomic clouds

    Ultracold Gases

    At room temperatures the behavior of a gas of atoms is dominated by their random thermal motion. Averaged over time this gives simple descriptions in terms of thermodynamic variables such as Temperature and Pressure. As the temperature is lowered, this thermal motion is reduced. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle prevents the atoms from coming to a stop. Instead, at nanokelvin temperatures, quantum mechanics dictates the properties of these atomic gases. We study this strange and beautiful form of quantum matter. (more)