69 research outputs found
A nonadiabatic semi-classical method for dynamics of atoms in optical lattices
We develop a semi-classical method to simulate the motion of atoms in a
dissipative optical lattice. Our method treats the internal states of the atom
quantum mechanically, including all nonadiabatic couplings, while position and
momentum are treated as classical variables. We test our method in the
one-dimensional case. Excellent agreement with fully quantum mechanical
simulations is found. Our results are much more accurate than those of earlier
semi-classical methods based on the adiabatic approximation.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to European Physical Journal
Influence of the lattice topography on a three-dimensional, controllable Brownian motor
We study the influence of the lattice topography and the coupling between
motion in different directions, for a three-dimensional Brownian motor based on
cold atoms in a double optical lattice. Due to controllable relative spatial
phases between the lattices, our Brownian motor can induce drifts in arbitrary
directions. Since the lattices couple the different directions, the relation
between the phase shifts and the directionality of the induced drift is non
trivial. Here is therefore this relation investigated experimentally by
systematically varying the relative spatial phase in two dimensions, while
monitoring the vertically induced drift and the temperature. A relative spatial
phase range of 2pi x 2pi is covered. We show that a drift, controllable both in
speed and direction, can be achieved, by varying the phase both parallel and
perpendicular to the direction of the measured induced drift. The experimental
results are qualitatively reproduced by numerical simulations of a simplified,
classical model of the system
Demonstration of a controllable three-dimensional Brownian motor in symmetric potentials
We demonstrate a Brownian motor, based on cold atoms in optical lattices,
where isotropic random fluctuations are rectified in order to induce controlled
atomic motion in arbitrary directions. In contrast to earlier demonstrations of
ratchet effects, our Brownian motor operates in potentials that are spatially
and temporally symmetric, but where spatiotemporal symmetry is broken by a
phase shift between the potentials and asymmetric transfer rates between them.
The Brownian motor is demonstrated in three dimensions and the noise-induced
drift is controllable in our system.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Effects of a classical homogeneous gravitational field on the cavity-field entropy and generation of the Schrodinger-cat states in the Jaynes-Cummings model
In this paper, we examine the effects of the gravitational field on the
dynamical evolution of the cavity-field entropy and the creation of the
Schrodinger-cat state in the Jaynes-Cummings model. We consider a moving
two-level atom interacting with a single mode quantized cavity-field in the
presence of a classical homogeneous gravitational field. Based on an su(2)
algebra, as the dynamical symmetry group of the model, we derive the reduced
density operator of the cavity-field which includes the effects of the atomic
motion and the gravitational field. Also, we obtain the exact solution and the
approximate solution for the system-state vector, and examine the atomic
dynamics. By considering the temporal evolution of the cavity-field entropy as
well as the dynamics of the Q-function of the cavity-field we study the effects
of the gravitational field on the generation of the Schrodinger-cat states of
the cavity-field by using the Q-function, field entropy and approximate
solution for the system-state vector. The results show that the gravitational
field destroys the generation of the Schrodinger-cat state of the cavity-field.Comment: 15 pages, 9figure
Band Gaps for Atoms in Light based Waveguides
The energy spectrum for a system of atoms in a periodic potential can exhibit
a gap in the band structure. We describe a system in which a laser is used to
produce a mechanical potential for the atoms, and a standing wave light field
is used to shift the atomic levels using the Autler-Townes effect, which
produces a periodic potential. The band structure for atoms guided by a hollow
optical fiber waveguide is calculated in three dimensions with quantised
external motion. The size of the band gap is controlled by the light guided by
the fiber. This variable band structure may allow the construction of devices
which can cool atoms. The major limitation on this device would be the
spontaneous emission losses.Comment: 7 pages, four postscript figures, uses revtex.sty, available through
http://online.anu.edu.au/Physics/papers/atom.htm
Exploring phase coherence in a 2D lattice of Bose-Einstein condensates
Bose-Einstein condensates of rubidium atoms are stored in a two-dimensional
periodic dipole force potential, formed by a pair of standing wave laser
fields. The resulting potential consists of a lattice of tightly confining
tubes, each filled with a 1D quantum gas. Tunnel-coupling between neighboring
tubes is controlled by the intensity of the laser fields. By observing the
interference pattern of atoms released from more than 3000 individual lattice
tubes the phase coherence of the coupled quantum gases is studied. The lifetime
of the condensate in the lattice and the dependence of the interference pattern
on the lattice configuration are investigated.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Characterisation of a three-dimensional Brownian motor in optical lattices
We present here a detailed study of the behaviour of a three dimensional
Brownian motor based on cold atoms in a double optical lattice [P. Sjolund et
al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 190602 (2006)]. This includes both experiments and
numerical simulations of a Brownian particle. The potentials used are spatially
and temporally symmetric, but combined spatiotemporal symmetry is broken by
phase shifts and asymmetric transfer rates between potentials. The diffusion of
atoms in the optical lattices is rectified and controlled both in direction and
speed along three dimensions. We explore a large range of experimental
parameters, where irradiances and detunings of the optical lattice lights are
varied within the dissipative regime. Induced drift velocities in the order of
one atomic recoil velocity have been achieved.Comment: 8 pages, 14 figure
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