Paper detail

Numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation for trapped Fermi gases with in-medium effects

Using the test-particle method, we solve numerically the Boltzmann equation for an ultra-cold gas of trapped fermions with realistic particle number and trap geometry in the normal phase. We include a mean-field potential and in-medium modifications of the cross-section obtained within a T matrix formalism. After some tests showing the reliability of our procedure, we apply the method to realistic cases of practical interest, namely the anisotropic expansion of the cloud and the radial quadrupole mode oscillation. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data. Although the in-medium effects significantly increase the collision rate, we find that they have only a moderate effect on the anisotropic expansion and on frequency and damping rate of the quadrupole mode.