KINETICS OF BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION IN A TRAP

The formation process of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a trap is described using a master equation based on quantum kinetic theory, which can be well approximated by a description using only the condensate mode in interaction with a thermalized bath of noncondensate atoms. A rate equation of the form (n) over dot = 2W(+)(n)[(1 - e({mu n - mu}/kT))n + 1] is derived, in which the difference between the condensate chemical potential mu(n) and the bath chemical potential mu gives the essential behavior. Solutions of this equation give a characteristic latency period for condensate formation and appear to be consistent with the observed behavior of both rubidium and sodium condensate formation.