Mathematics Colloquia and Seminars

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I will discuss recent theoretical predictions on the escape of small packets of ultracold and Bose-condensed atoms from an atomic trap. The underlying trap dynamics is chaotic, which profoundly influences the escape rate of atoms from the trap. In particular, fractal patterns are predicted to be directly observable in the escape time data, with sufficient resolution to accurately resolve several fractal layers. Much of the talk will address the intricate nature of these fractals and how they can be accurately described and classified using new tools in symbolic dynamics. These tools are applicable to a wide range of chaotic escape phenomena.