Multi-Component Ultracold Quantum Gases: Themes from Condensed Matter Physics and Beyond

Ultracold atomic gases have recently proven to be enormously rich

systems from the perspective of a condensed matter physicist. With

the advent of optical lattices, such systems can now realise idealised

model Hamiltonians used to investigate strongly correlated materials.

Conversely, ultracold atomic gases can exhibit quantum phases and

dynamics with no counterpart in the solid state due to their extra

degrees of freedom and unique environments virtually free of

dissipation. In this talk, I will discuss examples of such behaviour

arising from spinor degrees of freedom on which my recent research has

focused. Examples will include bosons with artificially induced

spin-orbit coupling and the non-equilibrium dynamics of spinor

condensates.