Question

He said basically that in experiments a Bose-Einstein condensation is usually trapped by some external potential, which I imagine to be an electric or magnetic field. Then, the temperature is considerably lowered, the trap is turned off and one studies the evolution of this state.

Can someone further elaborate this kind of experiment? For instance, it was not clear to me what exactly one tries to measure with it; as far as I understood, the temperature is cooled down so to form a condensate in the first place and the release of the external field is intended to study its evolution. What one wants to understand with the evolution of such a condensate? Moreover, what material is used in such experiments? (I am thinking about liquid Hellium?)

Answer 1

In experiments on Bose-Einstein condensation, a trap is used to confine the condensate, formed when the temperature is lowered. The evolution of the condensate is studied by releasing the trap. Different materials, such as ultra-cold gases, can be used to create the condensate.

Step-by-step explanation:

In experiments to study Bose-Einstein condensation, a trap is used to confine the condensate, which is formed when the temperature is lowered. The trap can be created using an electric or magnetic field. The purpose of releasing the trap is to study the evolution of the condensate. By observing the behavior of the condensate as the external field is turned off, researchers can gain insights into its properties and dynamics.

In these experiments, various materials can be used to create the Bose-Einstein condensate, including ultra-cold gases like rubidium or sodium. These materials are chosen because they exhibit the necessary quantum properties for Bose-Einstein condensation to occur.