Enhanced oscillation lifetime of a Bose-Einstein condensate in the 3D/1D crossover

TL;DR

This paper reports that in a Bose-Einstein condensate with a cigar-shaped trap, oscillation lifetimes are extended due to reduced transverse momentum state occupation, bridging 3D and 1D behaviors.

Contribution

It demonstrates experimentally that transverse confinement suppresses damping mechanisms, prolonging oscillation lifetimes in the 3D/1D crossover regime.

Findings

Oscillations persist longer than in purely 3D gases.

Suppressed transverse momentum occupation reduces damping.

The system exhibits intermediate 3D/1D dynamics.

Abstract

We have measured the damped motion of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate, oscillating with respect to a thermal cloud. The cigar-shaped trapping potential provides enough transverse confinement that the dynamics of the system are intermediate between three-dimensional and one-dimensional. We find that oscillations persist for longer than expected for a three-dimensional gas. We attribute this to the suppressed occupation of transverse momentum states, which are essential for damping.