Project Details
Quantum-gas mixtures with extreme mass imbalance
Applicant
Professor Dr. Christian Groß
Subject Area
Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
Term
since 2023
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 499180199
In this project we aim to study thermalization dynamics and transport in an atomic Bose-Fermi quantum gas mixture with extreme mass imbalance. The imbalance naturally leads to a very pronounced heterogeneity of timescales in the many-body system. Such a scenario has been predicted to show very slow dynamics, peculiar hydrodynamic behavior and quasi-localization. We will study the relaxation dynamics of light fermions initially brought out of equilibrium, which are immersed in a bath of heavy bosons. First, we will realize a quasi-homogeneous setting in a harmonic trap resembling the Fröhlich polaron scenario for a certain set of parameters. We will then move forward and load the atoms in an optical lattice to study quasi-localization due to dynamic constraints realized by the practically immobile bosons. We will work in close collaboration with several theory partners of the research unit to model and interpret the observed timescales in both settings and to understand the role of kinetic constraints in the system.
DFG Programme
Research Units