Supersolidity in a quantum degenerate dipolar spinor gas

Speaker: Mukund Vengalattore, Cornell University

When: April 1, 2009 (Wed), 04:00PM to 05:00PM (add to my calendar)
Location: SCI 328

This event is part of the Condensed Matter Theory Seminar Series.

Abstract:
I will describe studies on the magnetic and superfluid order of quantum
degenerate F=1 {87}Rb spinor gases. In these magnetic quantum fluids, we
observe the spontaneous emergence of a self-organized phase exhibiting a
crystalline ordering of magnetic domains. We ascribe this spatial
organization to the competition between the short-range ferromagnetic
interaction and the long-range magnetic dipolar interaction. Further,
via Bragg spectroscopy of this dipolar quantum fluid, we confirm the
presence of long-range phase coherence (characteristic of a superfluid)
co-existing with the crystalline magnetic order. Together, these results
provide strong experimental evidence for the realization of the
supersolid phase of matter.