Ultracold two-dimensional (2D) Bose gases exhibit behaviour that differs markedly from their three-dimensional counterparts, making them a sensitive setting for studying symmetry and interaction effects. In the idealized Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE), scale invariance gives rise to unique phenomena such as Townes solitons, ‘strong’ self-similar collapse, and interaction-independent breathing-mode frequencies in tightly trapped systems. However, realistic bosonic systems exhibit a strong quantum anomaly, namely, a breaking of scale invariance and, in consequence, the formation of universal droplets. It remains unclear whether a simple, unified theoretical framework exists to analyse these phenomena. To address that, we introduce a density-dependent coupling into the GPE, which successfully describes this behaviour, while preserving a structure suitable for intuitive analytical and numerical exploration.In this talk, I will discuss the unique properties of ultracold low-dimensional Bose gases, with a focus on the 2D attractive Bose gas. I will show our limitations in the mathematical description of those systems and how we can overcome them with the recently introduced generalized GPE. The talk will address new experimental opportunities and theoretical challenges.
Zapraszamy do sali 0.06, ul. Pasteura 5 o godzinie 10:15

Alessio Ciamei (European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy - LENS, Florence)
Despite tremendous progress in direct laser cooling of molecules, the only strategy so far able to deliver molecular gases at high phase-space density relies on the assembly from pre-cooled atoms in a two-step process: atom pairs are first converted into weakly bound molecules across a Feshbach resonance and later transferred to the absolute molecular ground state via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. However, this method has so far been experimentally demonstrated only for bi-alkali systems with singlet electronic ground states.In my talk, I will initially review our results, in collaboration with M. Tomza’s group (UWarsaw), on the association of alkali lithium and transition-metal chromium into polar paramagnetic molecules [1], and preliminary benchmarks of quantum chemistry methods on Cr-bearing diatomics. I will then focus on our recent joint proposal [2] for next-generation searches for new physics based on high-spin, Σ-state, polar molecules in the ultracold regime. I will explain how these can be realized by assembly of chromium and ytterbium atoms into YbCr and describe their favorable properties from the experimental point of view. [1] S. Finelli et al., PRX Quantum 5, 020358 (2024)[2] A. Ciamei et al., arXiv:2507.16760
Despite tremendous progress in direct laser cooling of molecules, the only strategy so far able to deliver molecular gases at high phase-space density relies on the assembly from pre-cooled atoms in a two-step process: atom pairs are first converted into weakly bound molecules across a Feshbach resonance and later transferred to the absolute molecular ground state via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. However, this method has so far been experimentally demonstrated only for bi-alkali systems with singlet electronic ground states.In my talk, I will initially review our results, in collaboration with M. Tomza’s group (UWarsaw), on the association of alkali lithium and transition-metal chromium into polar paramagnetic molecules [1], and preliminary benchmarks of quantum chemistry methods on Cr-bearing diatomics. I will then focus on our recent joint proposal [2] for next-generation searches for new physics based on high-spin, Σ-state, polar molecules in the ultracold regime. I will explain how these can be realized by assembly of chromium and ytterbium atoms into YbCr and describe their favorable properties from the experimental point of view.[1] S. Finelli et al., PRX Quantum 5, 020358 (2024)[2] A. Ciamei et al., arXiv:2507.16760Zapraszamy do sali 0.06, ul. Pasteura 5 o godzinie 10:15

Sebastian Blatt (planQC, Garching, Germany)
Analog quantum simulators based on ultracold atoms trapped in optical lattices can be used to study condensed matter systems with single-site resolution. The quest for more control over individual atoms in such systems has culminated in a new generation of experiments based on atom arrays assembled with optical tweezers. These atom arrays can be created rapidly in arbitrary two- and three-dimensional geometries, and atoms in these arrays can be entangled using long-range Rydberg interactions. Based on these developments, atom arrays have emerged as one of the most promising platforms to build digital quantum computers, because (1) atoms can realize qubits with many seconds of coherence time; (2) they have no manufacturing variations; and (3) it is easy to scale up to arrays with thousands of qubits. Here, I report on the digital quantum computer demonstrators developed in the academic projects within the Munich Quantum Valley and the commercial quantum computers developed at our spin-off, planqc.
Zapraszamy do sali 0.06, ul. Pasteura 5 o godzinie 10:15

Sid Wright (Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin)
Aluminum monofluoride (AlF) is the first spin-singlet molecule to be laser-cooled and captured into a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Its electronic structure is distinct from other laser-cooled molecules, and results in several highly attractive properties: chemical and collisional stability; efficient gas-phase molecular production via a thermochemical reaction; simple optical cycling in any excited rotational level; and a narrow, spin-forbidden, vibrationally diagonal transition from the ground state.In this talk, I will present the latest results from the AlF group in Berlin, where we have now demonstrated a MOT for three different rotational levels of the electronic ground state. I will discuss the experimental challenges and improvements to be made, the prospect of trapping higher rotational levels, and some future plans. Recently, we discovered that AlF can survive collisions with (and therefore thermalise to) room temperature surfaces, despite it having a negligible equilibrium vapour pressure below about 500 K. I will present our first velocity- and angle-resolved measurements of single AlF-surface collision outcomes observed via laser-induced-fluorescence on a camera. We tentatively find that, as shown recently for atomic Yb and Fe, specific polymer-coated surfaces lead to very low sticking probability for AlF. This opens up prospects for cheap, compact and cryogen-free molecular sources for future experiments.