Atomic and molecular matter fields in periodic potentials

TL;DR

This paper explores atom-molecule conversion in optical lattices, showing how condensate states form without collisions and how to control amplitudes for maximizing molecular condensates, observable via diffraction signals.

Contribution

It introduces a method to analyze and control condensate formation in atom-molecule systems within optical lattices without collisional interactions.

Findings

Condensate states form with macroscopic fractions in optical lattices.

Diffraction signals reveal condensate populations.

Control of state amplitudes can maximize molecular condensates.

Abstract

This paper deals with the conversion between atoms and molecules in optical lattices. We show that in the absence of collisional interaction, the atomic and molecular components in different lattice wells combine into states with macroscopic condensate fractions, which can be observed as a strong diffraction signal, if the particles are abruptly released from the lattice. The condensate population, and the diffraction signal are governed not only by the mean number of atoms or molecules in each well, but by the precise amplitudes on state vector components with different numbers of particles. We discuss ways to control these amplitudes and to maximize the condensate fraction in the molecular formation process.