Eur. Phys. J. D 44, 345-350 (2007)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2007-00185-6

Exact scattering length for a potential of Lennard-Jones type

Universität Oldenburg, Institut für Physik, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a jochen.pade@uni-oldenburg.de

Received: 23 March 2007
Published online: 8 June 2007

Abstract

For a modified Lennard-Jones interaction potential of the form ∼[(r₀/r)^2n-2-(r₀/r)ⁿ], an exact and simple expression for the s-wave scattering length is presented, and discussed in some detail. For heavy alkali atoms, which nowadays are routinely being employed to produce Bose-Einstein condensates, this potential is well compatible with known experimental data when n = 6.