Cold atoms

Bose-Einstein condensates are considered as a new state of matter in which the atoms behave as if they were a single one. Their existence was predicted in 1924 by Einstein and the first Bose-Einstein condensate appeared in laboratory in 1999. The purpose of this book is to present the physics and techniques around cold atoms and Bose-Einstein condensates in an adequate manner to a non-specialized audience. The approach is progressive: atoms, photons and the interactions between them are described in the first chapter. The second chapter tackles the concept of temperature for a population of atoms. The third chapter presents the techniques used to slow-down, cool and trap atoms. The last chapter presents some applications of cold atoms in the domain of atomic clocks, atomic interferometry, quantum mechanics, superfluidity, ultra-cold gases and atom lasers. The Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect on atoms instead of photons is explained. (A.C.)