OBSERVATION OF BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION IN A GAS OF CHROMIUM ATOMS

We have observed Bose-Einstein condensation of chromium atoms [1], whose large magnetic dipole moment is unique among all species that have been Bose-condensed so far. The arising magnetic forces are of anisotropic and long-range character and therefore introduce a novel type of interaction in the physics of ultra-cold quantum gases. In addition, it is expected that the character of the interaction present in a chromium BEC can be varied from mainly contact to purely dipolar utilizing one of the recently observed Feshbach resonances in ⁵²Cr-collisions.