Resonant demagnetization of a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate in a three-dimensional optical lattice

Abstract

We study dipolar relaxation of a chromium Bose-Einstein condensate loaded into a three-dimensional (3D) optical lattice. We observe dipolar relaxation resonances when the magnetic energy released during the inelastic collision matches an excitation towards higher-energy bands. Spectroscopy of these resonances for two orientations of the magnetic field provides a 3D band spectroscopy of the lattice. The narrowest resonance is registered for the lowest excitation energy. Its line shape is sensitive to the on-site interaction energy. We use such sensitivity to probe number squeezing in a Mott insulator. © 2013 American Physical Society.