Theoretical Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics at JILA

这个小组的建议是支持三个研究小组调查理论原子、分子和光学物理领域的问题。这三个小组主要致力于超冷气体的物理研究，着眼于将它们用作可控的量子系统，以及克服目前我们理解中的瓶颈和限制。多年来，三名首席调查员在专业领域相辅相成，他们之间的密切联系、定期沟通的便利程度和共同利益加强了这些领域的专业知识。由此产生的兴趣和能力的协同使这三个小组能够有效地研究广泛的问题。补充说，所报告的结果是五年期的，尽管上一次审查的供资周期仅涵盖2003年春季开始的三年期。自2006年春季以来的额外两年资金是作为国家科学基金会创造力的延伸提供的。这里提出的研究的学术价值主要来自这样一个事实，即这个建议解决了许多当代在超冷量子气体领域感兴趣的问题。稀薄量子气体研究最近观察到简并费米气体中的库珀型配对以及与之相关的类似于BCS超导的相变。简并费米气体的这种和其他性质继续对理论提出新的挑战，并仍然是更深入研究的丰富领域。原子在光学晶格中的行为是一个处于起步阶段的领域，特别是与磁性费什巴赫共振有关的领域，它也将受到该项目的理论关注。事实证明，将两体散射理论推广到处理两个极性分子之间的碰撞是非常具有挑战性的，它们将是下一个资金阶段集中努力的重点。三体复合和四体散射重排碰撞也被规划为协同的理论攻击。研究人员已经在与这一提议相关的许多部分重叠的领域建立了专业知识，包括量子光学、多体理论、存在和不存在修整激光场的二体散射物理，以及少数体相互作用和复合过程。预计下一个资助期将产生更广泛的影响，主要集中在对研究生进行理论原子、分子和光学物理方面的培训。所有申请的资金都是为了支持研究生，每年大约有三名研究生平均分配给三名调查员。

This group proposal is to support three research groups investigating problems in the field of theoretical atomic, molecular, and optical physics. These three groups work primarily on the physics of ultracold gases, with an eye toward exploiting them as controllable quantum systems, as well as overcoming present bottlenecks and limitations in our understanding. The three principal investigators have acquired complementary areas of expertise over the years, which are strengthened by their close ties, ease of regular communication, and common interests. The resulting synergy of interests and abilities enables these three groups to delve efficiently into a broad range of problems. Parenthetically, it is mentioned that the results being reported are for a five year period even though the last reviewed funding cycle only covered a 3-year interval that began in the spring of 2003. The additional two years of funding since spring of 2006 were provided as an NSF Creativity Extension. The intellectual merit of the research proposed here primarily derives from the fact that this proposal tackles numerous problems of contemporary interest in the field of ultracold quantum gases. Dilute quantum gas research has recently observed Cooper-type pairing in a degenerate Fermi gas, and an associated phase transition akin to BCS superconductivity. This and other properties of a degenerate Fermi gas continue to pose new challenges for theory, and remain rich areas for deeper investigations. The behavior of atoms in optical lattices is a field in its infancy, particularly in conjunction with magnetic Feshbach resonances, and it will receive theoretical attention from this project as well. Generalizations of two-body scattering theory to handle collisions between two polar molecules have proven to be tremendously challenging, and they will be the focus of concentrated effort in the coming funding period. Three-body recombination and four-body scattering and rearrangement collisions are also planned for concerted theoretical attack. The investigators have established expertise in many areas relevant to this proposal, which partially overlap, including quantum optics, many-body theory, two-body scattering physics with and without a dressing laser field present, and few-body interactions and recombination processes. The broader impacts expected to result from the next funding period are centered squarely on the training of graduate students in theoretical atomic, molecular, and optical physics. All of the funds requested are aimed at the support of graduate students, approximately three per year divided evenly among the three investigators.