Ultracold gases articles from across Nature Portfolio

Ultracold gases are ensembles of atoms held at a temperature near absolute zero. Such systems enable the creation of exotic phenomena such as Bose–Einstein condensation. Ultracold gases are also useful simulating condensed-matter systems because their tunability opens the door to effects that are otherwise difficult to observe.

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News & Views | 08 March 2023

A switchable atomic mirror
- Rivka Bekenstein
- & Susanne F. Yelin
Nature Physics, 1-2

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Research
20 March 2023 | Open Access

Ultracold Feshbach molecules in an orbital optical lattice

The realization of ultracold molecules in higher bands of an optical lattice sets the stage for the study of the interplay between orbital physics and the Bose–Einstein condensation and Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer superfluidity crossover.
- Yann Kiefer
- , Max Hachmann
- & Andreas Hemmerich
Nature Physics, 1-6
Research
27 February 2023 | Open Access

Fragmentation and correlations in a rotating Bose–Einstein condensate undergoing breakup
- Sunayana Dutta
- , Axel U. J. Lode
- & Ofir E. Alon
Scientific Reports 13, 3343
Research
24 February 2023 | Open Access

Accurate holographic light potentials using pixel crosstalk modelling
- Paul Schroff
- , Arthur La Rooij
- & Stefan Kuhr
Scientific Reports 13, 3252
Research | 22 February 2023

Atomic Bose–Einstein condensate in twisted-bilayer optical lattices

Quantum simulation of superfluid to Mott insulator transition in twisted-bilayer square lattices based on atomic Bose–Einstein condensates loaded into spin-dependent optical lattices provides a new direction for exploring moiré physics in ultracold atoms.
- Zengming Meng
- , Liangwei Wang
- & Jing Zhang
Nature 615, 231-236
Research
20 February 2023 | Open Access

Quantum Rabi dynamics of trapped atoms far in the deep strong coupling regime

Light interaction with atoms depends on the strength of the light-matter coupling and the energy splitting of the modes involved. Here the authors study of quantum Rabi dynamics in a deep strong coupling regime by using a cloud of cold rubidium atoms.
- Johannes Koch
- , Geram R. Hunanyan
- & Martin Weitz
Nature Communications 14, 954
Research
16 February 2023 | Open Access

A subwavelength atomic array switched by a single Rydberg atom

The realization of efficient light–matter interfaces is important for many quantum technologies. An experiment now shows how to coherently switch the collective optical properties of an array of quantum emitters by driving a single ancilla atom to a Rydberg state.
- Kritsana Srakaew
- , Pascal Weckesser
- & Johannes Zeiher
Nature Physics, 1-6

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News and Comment

News & Views | 08 March 2023

A switchable atomic mirror

Controlling the response of a material to light at the single-atom level is a key factor for many quantum technologies. An experiment now shows how to control the optical properties of an atomic array by manipulating the state of a single atom.
- Rivka Bekenstein
- & Susanne F. Yelin
Nature Physics, 1-2
News & Views | 14 February 2023

They’re so random
- Richard Brierley
Nature Physics 19, 156
News & Views | 13 February 2023

Using a quantum phase transition to efficiently produce heteronuclear molecules

An atomic Bose–Fermi mixture was driven through a quantum phase transition by varying an applied magnetic field to tune the interspecies interactions. This approach enabled the efficient generation of sodium–potassium molecules in the quantum degenerate regime.

Nature Physics, 1-2
News & Views | 31 October 2022

When ultracold magnets swirl

The observation of quantized vortices in a rotating gas of magnetic atoms confirms a long-standing prediction and has far-reaching implications for the study of phenomena related to superfluidity.
- Zoran Hadzibabic
Nature Physics 18, 1393-1394
News & Views | 17 October 2022

Observing a dual superfluid in a ferromagnetic ultracold gas

An ultracold spinor Bose gas was used to achieve advanced experimental control and detection of an easy-plane ferromagnet, allowing observation of the system as it approaches equilibrium. The measurements revealed twofold superfluidity in the spin and density degrees of freedom with very different critical speeds.

Nature Physics 18, 1408-1409
News & Views | 26 September 2022

Kicked rotors back in action

A quantum rotor periodically kicked stops absorbing energy after a certain time and enters into a localized regime. Two experiments with cold atoms have now shown how many-body interactions can suppress dynamical localization.
- Jakub Zakrzewski
Nature Physics 18, 1269-1270