Bistability and macroscopic quantum coherence in BECs: the two cases of attractive and repulsive interactions

Year: 2002

Authors: Montina A., Arecchi F.T.

Autors Affiliation: Univ. di Pisa, Dip. di Fisica, Via F. Buonarroti 2, Pisa, Italy;
Univ. di Firenze, Dip. di Fisica, Italy;
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy

Abstract: We consider Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in situations where the density undergoes a symmetry breaking, either in real space or in momentum space. This occurs for a suitable number of condensed atoms in a double well potential, obtained in real space for a BEC of lithium atoms by adding a standing wave light field to the trap potential, or in momentum space for rubidium atoms by Raman coupling two BECs in different magnetic states with two tilted light fields. Evidence of bistability results from the solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. By second quantization, we show that the classical bistable situation is in fact a Schrodinger cat (SC) and we evaluate the macroscopic quantum coherence between the two SC states.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF MODERN OPTICS

Volume: 49 (1-2)      Pages from: 319  to: 331

KeyWords: Bose-einstein Condensation
DOI: 10.1080/09500340110077562

Citations: 3
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-11-17
References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)
Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click here
Connecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here