Extended molecules and geometric scattering resonances in optical lattices

Abstract

We develop a theory describing neutral atoms scattering at low energies in an optical lattice. We show that for a repulsive interaction, as the microscopic scattering length increases, the effective scattering amplitude approaches a limiting value which depends only on the lattice parameters. In the case of attractive interaction a geometric resonance occurs before reaching this limit. Close to the resonance, the effective interaction becomes repulsive and supports a weakly bound state, which can extend over several lattice sites.