Atomic wave packets in amplitude-modulated vertical optical lattices

Year: 2010

Authors: Alberti A., Ferrari G., Ivanov V.V., Chiofalo M.L., Tino G.M.

Autors Affiliation: Dipartimento di Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS-Università di Firenze, INFN-Sezione di Firenze, via Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Institut für Angewandte Physik der Universität Bonn, Wegelerstrasse 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO)-CNR, Largo Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Washington, 3910 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98195-1560, USA Department of Mathematics and INFN, University of Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 5, 56127 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: We report on the realization of dynamical control of transport for ultra-cold Sr-88 atoms loaded in an accelerated amplitude-modulated one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice. We show that the behavior of the dynamical system can be viewed as if traveling wave packets were moving in a static lattice whose energy dispersion can be tailored at will in width, amplitude and phase. One basic control operation is a reversible switch between Wannier-Stark localization and driven transport based on coherent tunneling. Performing modulation sequences of this operation within a Loschmidt-echo scheme, we are able to reverse the atomic group velocities at once. We then apply the technique to demonstrate a novel mirror for matter waves working independently of the momentum state. We finally discuss advantages of amplitude over previously reported phase modulation techniques for applications in force measurements at micrometric scales.

Journal/Review: NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

Volume: 12      Pages from: 65037-1  to: 65037-14

More Information: We thank M Artoni for critical reading, M Schioppo for experimental assistance, V Piazza for helpful discussions and R Ballerini, M De Pas, M Giuntini, A Hajeb, A Montori for technical assistance. This work was supported by LENS, INFN, EU (under contract RII3-CT-2003 506350 and FINAQS), ASI.
KeyWords: Ultracold Atoms; Quantum; Interference; Entanglement; Light
DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/12/6/065037

Citations: 47
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