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arXiv:1604.08108 · Physical Review A

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

Benjamin T. Beswick, Ifan G. Hughes, S. A. Gardiner, Hippolyte P. A. G. Astier, Mikkel F. Andersen, Boris Daszuta

Published Dec 6, 2016• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

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 $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$-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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.94.063604

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