After decades of improvements in cooling techniques of several atomic species and in finding methods to achieve stable quantum mixtures, the field is now ready for an extensive use of such versatile platforms to investigate various physical problems. Relevant examples are the dynamics of impurities in a quantum gas, the miscibility condition of different gases, the study of exotic topological structures, the interplay between magnetism and superfluidity, the formation of artificial molecules or new few-body states. In this review we illustrate the differences among possible quantum mixtures — whether homonuclear spin mixtures or heteronuclear ones — and show how they can be exploited to investigate a plethora of topics from the few-body to the many-body regime. In particular, we discuss quantum mixtures of ultracold gases under three different perspectives: systems made of a few atoms of different kinds, single impurities within a host gas and quantum mixtures of two interacting gases.

C. Baroni et al.
Quantum mixtures of ultracold gases of neutral atoms
Nat. Rev. Phys. (2024)

In this ambitious EIC Transition project we aim at developing the laser of our dreams: narrow and stable everytime you push the ON button. The project is a joint effort between the Ba+/Li group and the companies SILENTSYS, IDIL and A8. They will help us turn our ideas into a real product. We are looking for motivated people to join us, contact us for open positions!

We are excited to announce that Joel George has joined our group to pursue his PhD on quantum dynamics control using an integrable CMOS-compatible atom chip testbed. Joel’s project will focus on developing a load-lock system for the rapid replacement of atom chips without breaking the vacuum in the science cell. This innovative testbed will advance applications in atom interferometry, magnetometry, and quantum interfaces. His PhD is fully supported by the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Matter Wave Interferometer (MAWI). Welcome aboard, and best of luck, Joel!

On October 30th-31st, we held the second Florence-Innsbruck joint meeting at the INO-CNR headquarters in Arcetri with the research groups on Ultracold Atoms from IQOQI and the University of Innsbruck. It was a great opportunity for the young researchers to discuss recent scientific advancements in a friendly atmosphere, surrounded by the beautiful setting of Arcetri. Many thanks to Giulia, Francesca, and Giacomo for the organization! See you in Innsbruck next year!

Just as a thin water jet emerging from a tap, a quantum atomic filament may break up into droplets: surprisingly, under some circumstances, quantum gases behave like liquids. In our lab, we prepare a quantum droplet of ⁴¹K and ⁸⁷Rb, and release it in an optical waveguide. The droplet expands along the waveguide up to a critical length, and then splits into two or more sub-droplets. Our results can be explained in terms of capillary instability, previously observed in a variety of physical systems, including ordinary liquids and superfluid helium, but not yet in the ultracold gas realm. Getting curious? Look it up on the arxiv!

L. Cavicchioli et al.
Dynamical formation of multiple quantum droplets in a Bose-Bose mixture
arXiv:2409.16017 (2024)