Mean-Field Theory of Feshbach-Resonant Interactions in 85Rb Condensates

TL;DR

This paper develops a mean-field model to explain complex phenomena observed in 85Rb Bose-Einstein condensates near Feshbach resonances, attributing these effects to rogue dissociation of molecules into noncondensate atom pairs.

Contribution

It introduces a mean-field theoretical framework that links rogue dissociation to experimental anomalies in 85Rb condensates near Feshbach resonances.

Findings

Rogue dissociation explains condensate losses and burst phenomena.

The model reproduces observed oscillations between remnant and burst atoms.

Increased losses are linked to rapid magnetic field sweeps.

Abstract

Recent Feshbach-resonance experiments with 85Rb Bose-Einstein condensates have led to a host of unexplained results: dramatic losses of condensate atoms for an across-resonance sweep of the magnetic field, a collapsing condensate with a burst of atoms emanating from the remnant condensate, increased losses for decreasing interaction times-- until short times are reached, and seemingly coherent oscillations between remnant and burst atoms. Using a simple yet realistic mean-field model, we find that rogue dissociation, molecular dissociation to noncondensate atom pairs, is strongly implicated as the physical mechanism responsible for these observations.