epsilon-pseudoclassical model for quantum resonances in a cold dilute atomic gas periodically driven by finite-duration standing-wave laser pulses

Beswick, B.T.; Hughes, I.G.; Gardiner, S.A.; Astier, H.P.A.G.; Andersen, M.F.; Daszuta, B.

Abstract

Atom interferometers are a useful tool for precision measurements of fundamental physical phenomena, ranging from the local gravitational-field strength to the atomic fine-structure constant. In such experiments, it is desirable to implement a high-momentum-transfer “beam splitter,” which may be achieved by inducing quantum resonance in a finite-temperature laser-driven atomic gas. We use Monte Carlo simulations to investigate these quantum resonances in the regime where the gas receives laser pulses of finite duration and derive an ε-classical model for the dynamics of the gas atoms which is capable of reproducing quantum resonant behavior for both zero-temperature and finite-temperature noninteracting gases. We show that this model agrees well with the fully quantum treatment of the system over a time scale set by the choice of experimental parameters. We also show that this model is capable of correctly treating the time-reversal mechanism necessary for implementing an interferometer with this physical configuration and that it explains an unexpected universality in the dynamics.

Citation

Beswick, B., Hughes, I., Gardiner, S., Astier, H., Andersen, M., & Daszuta, B. (2016). epsilon-pseudoclassical model for quantum resonances in a cold dilute atomic gas periodically driven by finite-duration standing-wave laser pulses. Physical Review A, 94(6), Article 063604. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.94.063604

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Dec 6, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 6, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 16, 2016
• Journal: Physical Review A
• Print ISSN: 2469-9926
• Electronic ISSN: 2469-9934
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 94
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 063604
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.94.063604
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1397981