Finite-size effects on the Bose-Einstein condensation critical temperature in a harmonic trap

TL;DR

This paper derives precise higher-order corrections for the shift in Bose-Einstein condensation critical temperature caused by finite-size effects in anisotropic harmonic traps, highlighting important considerations for experimental comparisons.

Contribution

It provides new analytical expressions for finite-size corrections to the critical temperature, including higher-order terms, with validation through numerical analysis.

Findings

High accuracy of derived correction formulas

Identification of subtleties in experimental data interpretation

Enhanced understanding of finite-size effects in anisotropic traps

Abstract

We obtain second and higher order corrections to the shift of the Bose-Einstein critical temperature due to finite-size effects. The confinement is that of a harmonic trap with general anisotropy. Numerical work shows the high accuracy of our expressions. We draw attention to a subtlety involved in the consideration of experimental values of the critical temperature in connection with analytical expressions for the finite-size corrections.