Conical intersections in cold atom physics

In this chapter, we discuss how conical intersections can appear in systems of cold atoms. We in particular study atoms which are interacting with light with emphasis on continuum systems. A key ingredient in this respect is the concept of synthetic magnetism and corresponding gauge potentials, which can appear from the adiabatic motion of the atoms in combination with light coupled to the internal level structure of the atoms. This leads us to the concept of spin–orbit coupling and conical intersections (CIs). We discuss the role of collisions between the atoms in combination with spin–orbit coupling, and make a connection to quasi-relativistic dynamics with cold atoms.