Dynamics of a cold trapped ion in a Bose-Einstein condensate

TL;DR

This paper explores the interactions between a laser-cooled trapped ion and a Bose-Einstein condensate, revealing collision dynamics, cross sections, and the ion's potential as a probe for ultracold atom density profiles.

Contribution

It provides new insights into ion-BEC interactions, including collision processes and a novel method for probing ultracold atom densities using a single ion.

Findings

Observation of elastic and inelastic collision processes

Determination of collision cross sections

Demonstration of ion as a probe for BEC density profile

Abstract

We investigate the interaction of a laser-cooled trapped ion (Ba$^+$ or Rb$^+$) with an optically confined $^{87}$Rb Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). The system features interesting dynamics of the ion and the atom cloud as determined by their collisions and their motion in their respective traps. Elastic as well as inelastic processes are observed and their respective cross sections are determined. We demonstrate that a single ion can be used to probe the density profile of an ultracold atom cloud.