The Influence of s-wave interactions on focussing of atoms

Abstract

The focusing of a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate via an optical lattice potential is numerically investigated. The results are compared with a classical trajectory model which under-estimates the full width half maximum of the focused beam. Via the inclusion of the effects of interactions, in the Bose-Einstein condensate, into the classical trajectory model we show that it is possible to obtain reliable estimates for the full width half maximum of the focused beam when compared to numerical integration of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Finally, we investigate the optimal regimes for focusing and find that for a strongly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate focusing of order 20 nm may be possible.