Observation of atomic Wannier-Stark ladders in an accelerating optical potential

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.4512· OSTI ID:285764

Wilkinson, S R; Bharucha, C F; Madison, K W; Niu, Q; Raizen, M G ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1081 (United States)

We report observation of Wannier-Stark ladders with ultracold sodium atoms in an accelerating one-dimensional standing wave of light. Atoms are trapped in a far-detuned standing wave that is accelerated for a controlled duration. A small oscillatory component is added to the acceleration, and the fraction of trapped atoms is measured as a function of the oscillation frequency. Resonances are observed where the number of trapped atoms drops dramatically. The separation between resonant peaks is found to be proportional to the acceleration. We show that this resonant structure can also be understood as a temporal quantum interference effect. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 285764
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 76, Issue 24; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
SODIUM
STARK EFFECT
POTENTIALS
OPTICAL MODELS
ACCELERATION
STANDING WAVES
TRAPPING
OSCILLATIONS
ATOMS
INTERFERENCE
MOTION