Continuous optical loading of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in the Thomas-Fermi regime

TL;DR

This paper explores the process of optically loading a Bose-Einstein condensate in the Thomas-Fermi regime, analyzing how spontaneous emission affects its temperature and the potential for continuous atom laser operation.

Contribution

It introduces a master equation approach to study temperature changes during optical loading and identifies a threshold temperature for cooling or heating.

Findings

Loading can cool or heat the condensate depending on initial temperature.

A threshold temperature $T_{th}$ determines the cooling or heating regime.

Implications for continuous atom laser development are discussed.

Abstract

We discuss the optical loading of a Bose-Einstein condensate in the Thomas-Fermi regime. The condensate is loaded via spontaneous emission from a reservoir of excited-state atoms. By means of a master equation formalism, we discuss the modification of the condensate temperature during the loading. We identify the threshold temperature, $T_{th}$, above (below) which the loading process leads to cooling (heating), respectively. The consequences of our analysis for the continuous loading of an atom laser are discussed.