Quantum Defect Theory for Long-range Anisotropic Interactions

ORAL

Abstract

Quantum Defect Theory (QDT) is a numerically efficient and accurate tool for studying a wide variety of ultracold atomic collisions, where the asymptotic behavior of the atoms is well described by a set of simple parameters. However, analytic formulas for these parameters only exist for the pure $-1/R^6$ potential. The long-range parameters are given by simple power law equations in the collision energy, and the bound state energies of different partial waves are simply related. We extend these formulas to encompass all potentials of the form $-1/R^n$, where $n>2$. Moreover, the accuracy of QDT is limited by long-range anisotropic interactions, which, for example, play an important role in collisions of dysprosium or erbium atoms. We present our recent developments on numerically treating this type of interaction within perturbation theory.

*This work is supported by the US Department of Energy.

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Authors

  • Brandon P. Ruzic

    • JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO

  • John Bohn

    • JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309
    • JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO
    • JILA, NIST and Department of Physics, University of Colorado
    • JILA, University of Colorado at Boulder

  • Chris Greene

    • Department of Physics, Purdue University
    • Purdue University
    • Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
    • Physics department, Purdue University