Cold atoms: A field enabled by light

Year: 2015

Authors: Fallani L., Kastberg A.

Autors Affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy and LENS, University of Florence, Via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée UMR 7336 Parc Valrose, Nice, 06100, France

Abstract: Besides being a source of energy, light can also cool gases of atoms down to the lowest temperatures ever measured, where atomic motion almost stops. The research field of cold atoms has emerged as a multidisciplinary one, highly relevant, e.g., for precision measurements, quantum gases, simulations of many-body physics, and atom optics. In this focus article, we present the field as seen in 2015, and emphasise the fundamental role in its development that has been played by mastering light.

Journal/Review: EPL

Volume: 110 (5)      Pages from: 53001  to: 53001

KeyWords: Bose-Einstein condensation; Anderson localization; Mott insulator
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/110/53001