Superposition of macroscopic numbers of atoms and molecules.
We theoretically examine photoassociation of a nonideal Bose-Einstein condensate, focusing on evidence for a macroscopic superposition of atoms and molecules. This problem raises an interest because, rather than two states of a given object, an atom-molecule system is a seemingly impossible macroscopic superposition of different objects. Nevertheless, photoassociation enables coherent intraparticle conversion, and we thereby propose a viable scheme for creating a superposition of a macroscopic number of atoms with a macroscopic number of molecules.
Calsamiglia
J
J
Helsinki Institute of Physics, PL 64, FIN-00014 Helsingin yliopisto, Finland.
Mackie
M
M
Suominen
K A
KA