  We propose an experiment to measure the slow log(N) convergence to mean-field
theory (MFT) around a dynamical instability. Using a density matrix formalism,
we derive equations of motion which go beyond MFT and provide accurate
predictions for the quantum break-time. The leading quantum corrections appear
as decoherence of the reduced single-particle quantum state.

Atomic Physics;Condensed Matter;General Physics;Quantum Physics