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Nonexponential decay of Bose–Einstein condensates: a numerical study based on the complex scaling method

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Abstract

We study the decay dynamics of an interacting Bose–Einstein condensate in the presence of a metastable trapping potential from which the condensate can escape via tunneling through finite barriers. The time-dependent decay process is reproduced by means of the instantaneous decay rates of the condensate at a given population of the quasi-bound state, which are calculated with the method of complex scaling. Both for the case of a double-barrier potential as well as for the case of a tilted periodic potential, we find pronounced deviations from a monoexponential decay behavior, which would generally be expected in the absence of the atom–atom interaction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Regensburg, 93040, Regensburg, Germany

    P. Schlagheck

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi and CNR-INFM, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127, Pisa, Italy

    S. Wimberger

Authors
  1. P. Schlagheck
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  2. S. Wimberger
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Correspondence to P. Schlagheck.

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PACS

03.75.Lm; 03.65.Xp; 03.75.Kk

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Schlagheck, P., Wimberger, S. Nonexponential decay of Bose–Einstein condensates: a numerical study based on the complex scaling method. Appl. Phys. B 86, 385–390 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2511-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2511-8

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