Bose-Einstein Condensation and Quantized Vortices in Superfluidity and Superconductivity

(1 Nov - 31 Dec 2007)

Organizing Committee ·  Confirmed Visitors · Overview · Activities · Membership Application

Co-chairs

• Weizhu Bao (National University of Singapore)
• Fanghua Lin (Courant Institute, New York University)

Members

• Jiangbin Gong (National University of Singapore)
• Dieter Jaksch (University of Oxford)
• Baowen Li (National University of Singapore)
• Peter Markowich (University of Cambridge & University of Vienna)

• Overseas visitors
• Local visitors
• Graduate students
• Registered local participants

Since its realization in dilute bosonic atomic gases in 1995, Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of alkali atoms and hydrogen atoms has been produced and studied extensively in the laboratory. This has spurred great excitement in the atomic physics community and renewed the interest in studying collective dynamics of macroscopic ensembles of atoms occupying the same one-particle quantum state and quantized vortex in superfluidity. Theoretical predictions of the properties of BEC like the density profile, collective excitations and the formation of quantized vortices can now be compared with experimental data.

This dramatic progress on the experimental front has stimulated a wave of activity on both the theoretical and the numerical fronts. In fact, the study of BEC and quantized vortices in superfluidity has been and will continue to be one of the hottest research areas in quantum physics and applied and computational mathematics. It involves field theory, kinetic theory, quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, quantum hydrodynamics, stochastic analysis and scientific computing. Scientific modeling, mathematical analysis and numerical simulation within these frameworks are among the central themes of modern applied mathematics and sciences. With advances in technology, BEC in solids and waveguides as well as fermion condensation were realized in experiments recently. However, the understanding of these complicated physical phenomena, in particular, the scientific modeling for fermion condensation and the application of BEC in quantum computing, provide formidable challenges to researchers in these fields.

This two-month program will bring together leading international applied and pure mathematicians, theoretical and experimental physicists, and computational scientists, and researchers from NUS Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Material Sciences and Mechanical Engineering, and from A*STAR institutes IHPC and IMRE, to review, develop and promote interdisciplinary research on Bose-Einstein condensation and quantized vortex states and dynamics in superfluidity and superconductivity.

The program participants will:

1. review the most recent and advanced development in the research on Bose-Einstein condensation and quantized vortices in superfluidity and superconductivity, from experiment to theory, simulation and application;

2. present the recently developed mathematical theories, including modeling, analysis and computational techniques, that are relevant to BEC and quantized vortices;

3. discuss and compare different recently proposed scientific models for BEC, especially for BEC at finite temperatures, and fermion condensation;

4. identify critical scientific issues in the understanding of BEC and quantized vortices and the difficulties that are common to both disciplines;

5. accelerate the interaction of applied and computational mathematics with physics and materials science, and promote this highly interdisciplinary research that has emerging applications;

6. develop and foster international collaborations in a new era of scientific research.

The program activities will consist of two workshops, series seminars and collaborative research.

1. Collaborative research: 1 Nov - 31 Dec 2007

During the period of the program, Institute for Mathematical Sciences will provide an excellent research environment for local and international visitors from applied and computational mathematics, theoretical and experimental physics, material sciences and computational science to discuss and to conduct collaborative research.


2. Tutorial 1: 5 - 9 Nov 2007

Speakers: Dieter Jaksch, Oxford University, UK
                Weizhu Bao, National University of Singapore

Distinguished researchers will give tutorial lectures on modelling, computation, analysis and application of Bose-Einstein condensation.


3. Workshop 1: 12 - 16 Nov 2007

Title: Bose-Einstein condensation: modeling, analysis, computation and applications

Rationale: This workshop will focus on experimental progress, scientific modeling, mathematical analysis, numerical simulation and applications of Bose-Einstein condensation. Participants will explore mean field theory and kinetic theory for BEC at zero and finite temperature, discuss the latest experiments in BEC, compare different models for fermion condensation and BEC at finite temperature, and identify different possible applications of BEC. Emphasis will be placed on the development of various kinds of scientific models, mathematical theory and numerical algorithms for studying BEC.


4. Tutorial 2: 3 - 7 Dec 2007

Speakers: Francois Peeters, Universiteit Antwerpen, Belgium

Distinguished researchers will give tutorial lectures on mathematical theory and numerical algorithms for studying quantized vortices in superfluidity and superconductivity.


5. Workshop 2: 10 - 14 Dec 2007

Title: Quantized vortices in superfluidity and superconductivity and kinetic theory

Rationale: This workshop will extend the discussion in Workshop 1 but with emphasis on quantized vortices in Bose-Einstein condensation, superfluidity and superconductivity as well as kinetic theory. Participants will explore stability and dynamics of quantized vortices in superfluidity and superconductivity as well as their experimental realization. Emphasis will be placed on the development of various kinds of mathematical theory and numerical algorithms for studying quantized vortices. This workshop will involve more applied and pure mathematicians and computational scientists.


6. Public Lectures

Title: Quantum World of Ultra-Cold Atoms
Date & Time: 13 Nov 2007, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Speaker: Christopher Foot, University of Oxford, UK
Venue: LT31, Block S16,
            Science Drive 1, Singapore 117543

Title: Applied Partial Differential Equations: A Visual Appoach
Date & Time: 11 Dec 2007, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Speaker: Peter Markowich, University of Cambridge, UK and University of Vienna, Austria
Venue: LT31, Block S16,
            Science Drive 1, Singapore 117543


7. Seminar : 20 Nov 2007

IMS Membership is not required for participation in above activities. For attendance at these activities, please complete the online registration form.

If you are an IMS member or are applying for IMS membership, you do not need to register for these activities.

The Institute for Mathematical Sciences invites applications for membership for participation in the above program. Limited funds to cover travel and living expenses are available to young scientists. Applications should be received at least three (3) months before the commencement of membership. Application form is available in (MSWord|PDF|PS) format for download.

More information is available by writing to:

Secretary
Institute for Mathematical Sciences
National University of Singapore
3 Prince George's Park
Singapore 118402
Republic of Singapore

or email to imssec@nus.edu.sg.

For enquiries on scientific aspects of the program, please email Weizhu Bao  at bao@math.nus.edu.sg.

Organizing Committee ·  Confirmed Visitors · Overview · Activities · Membership Application