2016/09/15 by Robert P. Smith, Smith, Robert P.
Physics and Astronomy · #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech) #Strong Light-Matter Interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1609.04762
openalex publication_date 2016/09/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Bose-Einstein condensation is a unique phase transition in that it is not driven by inter-particle interactions, but can theoretically occur in an ideal gas, purely as a consequence of quantum statistics. This chapter addresses the question `How is this ideal Bose gas condensation modified in the presence of interactions between the particles?' This seemingly simple question turns out to be surprisingly difficult to answer. Here we outline the theoretical background to this question and discuss some recent measurements on ultracold atomic Bose gases that have sought to provide some answers.