Quantum reflection of bright matter-wave solitons

Cornish, S.L.; Parker, N.G.; Martin, A.M.; Judd, T.E.; Scott, R.G.; Fromhold, T.M.; Adams, C.S.

Abstract

We propose the use of bright matter-wave solitons formed from Bose–Einstein condensates with attractive interactions to probe and study quantum reflection from a solid surface at normal incidence. We demonstrate that the presence of attractive interatomic interactions leads to a number of advantages for the study of quantum reflection. The absence of dispersion as the soliton propagates allows precise control of the velocity normal to the surface and for much lower velocities to be achieved. Numerical modelling shows that the robust, self-trapped nature of bright solitons leads to a clean reflection from the surface, limiting the disruption of the density profile and permitting accurate measurements of the reflection probability.

Citation

Cornish, S., Parker, N., Martin, A., Judd, T., Scott, R., Fromhold, T., & Adams, C. (2009). Quantum reflection of bright matter-wave solitons. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 238(15), 1299-1305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2008.07.011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Jan 23, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2013
• Journal: Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena
• Print ISSN: 0167-2789
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-8022
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 238
• Issue: 15
• Pages: 1299-1305
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physd.2008.07.011
• Keywords: Quantum reflection, soliton, Bose–Einstein condensate
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1497696