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Quantum and Classical Dynamics of BEC in a Large-Period Optical Lattice
Published
Author(s)
Ian B. Spielman, Johnny H. Huckans, Bruno Laburthe-Tolra, James V. Porto, William D. Phillips
Abstract
We experimentally investigate diffraction of a ^u87 Rb Bose-Einstein Condensate from a 1D optical lattice. We use a range of lattice periods and timescales, including those beyond the Raman-Nath limit. We compare the results to quantum mechanical and classical simulations, with quantitative and qualitative agreement, respectively. The classical simulation predicts that the envelope of the time-evolving diffraction pattern is shaped by caustics: singularities in the phase space density of classical trajectories. This behavior becomes increasingly clear as the lattice period grows.
Citation
Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)
Bose-Einstein Condensate, caustics, collapse and revival, matter wave diffraction, Raman-Nath
Citation
Spielman, I.
, Huckans, J.
, Laburthe-Tolra, B.
, Porto, J.
and Phillips, W.
(2016),
Quantum and Classical Dynamics of BEC in a Large-Period Optical Lattice, Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics), [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=900919
(Accessed October 6, 2025)