Phase Space Dynamics in an Antiferromagnetic Spinor Condensate
Yingmei Liu, Stephen Maxwell, Eite Tiesinga and Paul Lett
National Institute of Standards & Technology, Atomic Physics Division
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8424, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8424, USA
Spinor condensates of F=1 sodium atoms display rich spin dynamics due to the antiferromagnetic nature of the interactions in this system. We make a continuous and minimally destructive measurement of the spin dynamics on a single evolving spinor condensate. This technique provides a sharp signature of a magnetically tuned boundary in phase space between the oscillating and running phase solutions. In recent experiments we have been able to track and observe the time evolution of atom number fluctuations, which uncovers a novel dissipation-driven boundary in phase space. We also introduce a phenomenological model to describe the observed energy dissipation. This allows us to precisely reveal phase space dynamics during spin mixing in the condensate.
CATEGORY: Physics
Name: Yingmei Liu
Mentor's name: Paul Lett
Division: Atomic Physics Division (842)
Laboratory: Laser Cooling and Trapping Group
Address: Rm. B255, Bldg. 216, Stop 8424
Telephone #: (301) 975-8571
FAX #: (301) 975-8272
email: yingmei.liu@nist.gov
Not a Sigma Xi member
Name: Stephen Maxwell
Mentor's name: Paul Lett
Division: Atomic Physics Division (842)
Laboratory: Laser Cooling and Trapping Group
Address: Rm. B141, Bldg. 216, Stop 8424
Telephone #: (301) 975-4950
FAX #: (301) 975-8272
email: stephen.maxwell@nist.gov
Not a Sigma Xi member
Name: Eite Tiesinga
Division: Atomic Physics Division (842)
Address: Rm. A247, Bldg. 221, Stop 8423
Telephone #: (301) 975-2284
FAX #: (301) 975-5485
email: eite.tiesinga@nist.gov
Not a Sigma Xi member