Efimov States in a Bose-Einstein Condensate near a Feshbach Resonance

TL;DR

This paper discusses the theoretical possibility of Efimov trimer states forming in a Bose-Einstein condensate near a Feshbach resonance, suggesting experimental signatures for their detection.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of trimer condensates in BECs near Feshbach resonances and proposes observable signatures for their experimental identification.

Findings

Efimov trimers can coexist with atom and dimer condensates.

Oscillatory dependence of observables on trimer binding energy is a key signature.

Spectra of atom and dimer bursts can indicate trimer presence.

Abstract

Recent experiments with Bose-Einstein condensates of 85Rb atoms near a Feshbach resonance have produced evidence for a condensate of diatomic molecules coexisting with the atom condensate. It should also be possible to create condensates of the triatomic molecules predicted by Efimov coexisting with the atom and dimer condensates. The smoking gun for the trimer condensate would be oscillatory dependence of observables on the binding energy of the trimer. It may also be possible to deduce the existence of the trimer condensate from the spectra of the bursts of atoms and dimers created in the disappearance of the trimers.