Preface
Although first proposed by Einstein in 1924, Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in a gas was not achieved until 1995 when, using a combination of laser cooling and trapping, and magnetic trapping and evaporation, it was first observed in rubidium and then in lithium and sodium, cooled down to extremely low temperatures. Since that time there has been an explosion of interest around the world in this novel macroscopic quantum state. Many different experimental and theoretical groups are participating in this work. There has been extensive theoretical analysis of many properties of condensates and possible experiments that could be done with them. On the experimental side, gaseous BEC with alkali atoms has been produced in several laboratories.
A few weeks before this Varenna school BEC was also observed in spin-polarized hydrogen and the first report was actually presented in one of the lectures. In the meantime several relevant physical properties of these Bose condensed gases have been measured.
This school brought together many leaders in both the theory and experiments on Bose-Einstein condensation in gases. Their lectures, which are written up in this volume, provided a detailed coverage of the experimental techniques for the creation and study of BEC, as well as the theoretical foundation for understanding the properties of this novel system. Many exciting aspects coming out of research on condensates were presented. The timing for this school was excellent since the field is still small enough to be fully covered, but is also clearly about to undergo a major expansion.
BEC has evolved from being an exotic and difficult phenomenon to realize to one that is starting to be routinely produced and used in a variety of applications and investigations.
This volume provides the first systematic review of the field and the many developments that have taken place in the past three years. This summer school continues a history of Fermi schools in atomic physics that were nicely timed to highlight new developments and anticipate exciting new directions. Let us mention, in particular, the 1991 School on Laser Manipulation of Atoms which covered many of the exciting ideas on laser cooling and trapping just as they reached maturity, as well as offering a glimpse toward future uses. These ideas anticipated many of the important developments that eventually lead to the realization of BEC in alkali metal vapors. In a similar spirit, it is likely that a number of proposals discussed in this volume foreshadow a great deal of exciting work in the future. Challenging features include, for example, quantized vortices and Josephson oscillations, quantum degeneracy in fermionic species, as well as the use of condensates in precision measurements, interferometry, and atom lithography.
The pleasant operation of the School was aided by the beautiful surroundings of Lake Como. However, the efficient and friendly efforts of Enrica Mazzi of the Italian Physical Society were essential for its success. In this effort she was greatly helped by Ramona Brigatti and Franca Sabadini. We would like to thank also M. Lanzini of the European Laboratories for Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS).
We acknowledge the financial support of the Italian Physical Society, of the Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia and of the Washington D.C. branch of the Office of Naval Research and of the Europe branch of the Office of Naval Research.
M. Inguscio, S. Stringari and C. E. Wieman
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