Pulsed macroscopic quantum tunneling of falling Bose-Einstein condensates

Year: 2001

Authors: Salasnich L., Parola A., Reatto L.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Milan, Dipartimento Fis, Ist Nazl Fis Mat, Unita Milano Univ, I-20133 Milan, Italy

Abstract: We investigate macroscopic quantum tunneling of a Bose-Einstein condensate, and how it is affected by the interatomic interaction. We study the dynamics of a condensate falling under gravity and scattering on a Gaussian potential barrier that models a mirror formed by a far-detuned sheet of light. We observe bouncing, interference, and quantum tunneling of the condensate. We find that the tunneling rate is very sensitive to the interatomic interaction and to the shape of the condensate. Under many conditions the tunneling rate is strongly enhanced by the interaction as achieved, for instance, by increasing the number of condensed particles. In a quasi one-dimensional situation the tunneling pulse displays two peaks. The quantum tunneling can be quasi-periodic, and in this way one could generate coherent Bose-Einstein condensed atomic pulses.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

Volume: 64 (2)      Pages from: 023601-1  to: 023601-5

KeyWords: Bose-Einstein condensation
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.64.023601

Citations: 47
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