Two-dimensional Bose fluids: An atomic physics perspective

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• Dr Zoran Hadzibabic, U of Cambridge
• Thursday 28 January 2010, 13:45-15:00
• Theory Library.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Dimitri M Gangardt.

Properties of phase transitions are fundamentally dependent on the dimensionality of physical systems, and the case of a two-dimensional (2d) Bose fluid is particularly fascinating because of its “marginal” behavior. In an infinite uniform 2d fluid, thermal fluctuations at any non-zero temperature are strong enough to suppress true long-range-order associated with Bose-Einstein condensation, but are not strong enough to suppress superfluidity in an interacting system below a non-zero Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) critical temperature. Further, the (algebraic) quasi-long-range order below the critical temperature leads to an interesting interplay between superfluidity and condensation in all experimentally relevant finite-size systems. The BKT theory provides a general framework for understanding a wide range of 2d phenomena, from superfluidity in liquid helium films to melting of 2d crystals. Recently, several groups have studied BKT physics in 2d ultracold atomic gases. These systems offer a new perspective on 2d physics due to a different range of parameters and probes complementary to those available in the conventional condensed matter systems. I will give an overview of recent experiments and our current understanding of these systems from an atomic physics perspective, and outline some open questions and ongoing efforts.

This talk is part of the Theoretical Physics Seminars series.

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