Testing quantum correlations in a confined atomic cloud by scattering fast atoms

TL;DR

The paper proposes a method to measure quantum correlations in ultracold atomic clouds by analyzing scattering patterns of fast atoms, enabling direct access to the one-particle density matrix.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scattering-based technique to directly determine the one-particle density matrix of trapped ultracold atoms, linking scattering data to quantum correlations.

Findings

Scattering probability relates to the Fourier transform of the density matrix.

Quantum correlations can be inferred from differential scattering cross-section.

Method provides a new way to probe quantum states in ultracold gases.

Abstract

We suggest measuring one-particle density matrix of a trapped ultracold atomic cloud by scattering fast atoms in a pure momentum state off the cloud. The lowest-order probability of the inelastic process, resulting in a pair of outcoming fast atoms for each incoming one, turns out to be given by a Fourier transform of the density matrix. Accordingly, important information about quantum correlations can be deduced directly from the differential scattering cross-section. A possible design of the atomic detector is also discussed.