Monday, September 29, 2008, Joint Physics Colloquium, 4:30 PM, 102 Thaw Hall, PITT

Vincent Liu

Department of Physics, University of Pittsburgh, "Condensed Matter Physics of Cold Atoms"

Abstract:

Recent experimental developments in ultracold alkali atoms have revitalized interest in some basic qualitative questions of quantum matter theory. The prospect rises largely owing to the unprecedented tunability of their physical properties, such as density, temperature, geometry, and perhaps most importantly, interaction strengths and tunneling rates. In this talk, I will first discuss the status of the Pittsburgh cold atom research program in the context of worldwide activities. A personal view of recent major developments will be attempted. Then, I will select a few examples of research projects we recently accomplished, to report some of two exciting efforts in our group. One is to understand some observed and/or on-going experimental phenomena. Another is to initiate a new class of conceptually interesting problems which might previously have seemed academic or excessively special.