title: Submicron spatial modulation of an interatomic interaction in a Bose-Einstein condensate.
abstract: We demonstrate submicron spatial control of interatomic interactions in a Bose-Einstein condensate of ytterbium (Yb). A pulsed optical standing wave, tuned near an optical Feshbach resonance, varies the s-wave scattering length continuously across the standing wave pattern. The modulated mean-field energy with a spatial period every 278 nm is monitored by a diffraction pattern in a time-of-flight image. We observe a wide scattering length control of up to 250 nm. The demonstrated spatial modulation of the scattering length proves that high resolution control of atomic interactions is possible.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Rekishu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taie
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugawa
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi