Atomic Landau-Zener tunneling and Wannier-Stark ladders in optical potentials

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.4504· OSTI ID:285762

Niu, Q; Zhao, X; Georgakis, G; Raizen, M ^[1]

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

We calculate the quantum motion of ultracold atoms in an accelerating optical potential, and show how they may be used to observe Landau-Zener tunneling and Wannier-Stark ladders, two fundamental quantum effects in solid state physics. The optical potential is spatially periodic, yielding an energy spectrum of Bloch bands for the atoms. The acceleration provides an inertial force in the moving frame, emulating an electric force on Bloch electrons. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 285762
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 76; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ATOMS
ENERGY SPECTRA
LANDAU-ZENER FORMULA
OPTICAL MODELS
PERIODIC SYSTEM
POTENTIALS
SOLID STATE PHYSICS
TUNNELING