514. WE-Heraeus-Seminar: Quo Vadis Bose-Einstein-Condensation? IV

Since 1995, when Bose-Einstein condensation in ultracold atomic gases has been realized experimentally, there has been a number of further substantial breakthroughs. Today, systems of ultracold bosonic and/or fermionic quantum gases allow for experimental control on a very high level concerning, e.g., the underlying trap geometry and the interaction strength. Moreover, they lend themselves to precise theoretical calculations of their static and dynamic properties, thus leading to highly accurate comparisons of experiment and theory. Ultracold atomic and molecular matter can be employed to provide practically ideal realizations of paradigmatically important many-body models considered in various fields, such as atomic and molecular physics, solid-state physics, and even nuclear physics. The high degree of control over the interatomic interactions also allows to probe quantum fluids in regimes and under conditions hitherto unavailable. Thus, at present, the field of ultracold quantum gases is extremely active, and expanding in many different directions. In particular, a new area of research is forming itself on the borderlines between atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, and condensed matter physics.

This seminar, which will bring together about 80 participants in August 2012, will provide a comprehensive survey of the different facets of this rapidly evolving subject. Leading international experts will review the present status of the most promising developments concerning ultracold quantum gases from both the experimental and the theoretical point of view, and will discuss future trends and perspectives. Participants are invited to present their current research in two poster sessions. In addition, 8 outstanding contributions will be selected for shorter talks.

Thus, the seminar will foster the exchange of information in this fast-developing field at the frontier of contemporary physics, and provide ample opportunity for scientific discussions. Similar to the previous workshops

Quo vadis BEC? I;
Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany, October 27 -- 29, 2006

422nd Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Seminar Quo vadis BEC?II;
Physikzentrum, Bad Honnef, October 29 -- 31, 2008

Summer School and Workshop Quo vadis BEC? III;
Max-Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, August 2 -- 20, 2010

it is also intended to initiate future collaborations amongst the participants.

Invited Speakers:

Gerhard Birkl
Darmstadt, Germany

Jean Dalibard
Paris, France

József Fortágh
Tübingen, Germany

Kristian Helmerson
Monash, Australia

Walter Hofstetter
Frankfurt, Germany

Martin Holthaus
Oldenburg, Germany

Randy Hulet
Houston, USA

Manfred Mark
Innsbruck, Austria

Giovanni Modugno
Firence, Italy

Tilman Pfau
Stuttgart, Germany

Laurent Sanchez-Palencia
Paris, France

Luis Santos
Hannover, Germany

Klaus Sengstock
Hamburg, Germany

Kangjun Seo
Atlanta, USA

Herwig Ott
Kaiserslautern, Germany

Sandro Stringari
Trento, Italy

David Thouless
Seattle, USA

Martin Weitz
Bonn, Germany

Ross Williams
Gaithersburg, USA

Vyacheslav Yukalov
Dubna, Russia

Wei Zhang
Beijing, China