Atomic Landau-Zener Tunneling in Fourier-Synthesized Optical Lattices

Journal Article · Fri Nov 09 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.190405· OSTI ID:21024400

Salger, Tobias; Geckeler, Carsten; Kling, Sebastian; Weitz, Martin ^[1]

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1. Institut fuer Angewandte Physik, Universitaet Bonn, Wegelerstr. 8, D-53115 Bonn (Germany)

We report on an experimental study of quantum transport of atoms in variable periodic optical potentials. The band structure of both ratchet-type asymmetric and symmetric lattice potentials is explored. The variable atom potential is realized by superimposing a conventional standing wave potential of {lambda}/2 spatial periodicity with a fourth-order multiphoton potential of {lambda}/4 periodicity. We find that the Landau-Zener tunneling rate between the first and the second excited Bloch band depends critically on the relative phase between the two spatial lattice harmonics.

• OSTI ID: 21024400
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 19; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.190405; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
HARMONICS
LANDAU-ZENER FORMULA
MULTI-PHOTON PROCESSES
PERIODICITY
POTENTIALS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
STANDING WAVES
TUNNEL EFFECT