7
Li has been studied in a magnetically trapped gas. Many-body quantum theory predicts that the occupation number of the condensate is limited to about 1400 atoms because of the effectively attractive interactions between 7Li atoms. Using a versitile phase-contrast imaging technique, we experimentally observe the condensate number to be consistent with this limit. We discuss our measurements, the current theoretical understanding of BEC in a gas with attractive interactions, and future experiments we hope to perform.
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Received: 4 June 1997
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Sackett, C., Bradley, C., Welling, M. et al. Bose–Einstein condensation of lithium . Appl Phys B 65, 433–440 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003400050293
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003400050293