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Title: Nonlinearity from quantum mechanics: Dynamically unstable Bose-Einstein condensate in a double-well trap

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
 [1]
  1. Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3046 (United States)

We study theoretically an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate in a double-well trap, both quantum-mechanically and classically, under conditions such that in the classical model an unstable equilibrium dissolves into large-scale oscillations of the atoms between the potential wells. Quantum mechanics alone does not exhibit such nonlinear dynamics, but measurements of the atom numbers in the potential wells may nevertheless cause the condensate to behave essentially classically.

OSTI ID:
21408759
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Vol. 81, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.81.051602; (c) 2010 The American Physical Society; ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English