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arXiv:2311.07254 · The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Coherent Spatial Control of Wave Packet Dynamics on Quantum Lattices

Ilia Tutunnikov, Chern Chuang, Jianshu Cao

Published Dec 15, 2023• 6 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum lattices are pivotal in the burgeoning fields of quantum materials and information science. Novel experimental techniques allow the preparation and monitoring of wave packet dynamics on quantum lattices with high spatiotemporal resolution. We present an analytical study of wave packet diffusivity and diffusion length on tight-binding quantum lattices subject to stochastic noise. Our analysis reveals the crucial role of spatial coherence and predicts a set of novel phenomena: (1) noise can enhance the transient diffusivity and diffusion length of spatially extended initial states; (2) standing or traveling initial states, with large momentum, spread faster than a localized initial state and exhibit a noise-induced peak in the transient diffusivity; (3) the differences in the diffusivity or diffusion length of extended and localized initial states have a universal dependence on initial width. These predictions suggest the possibility of controlling the wave packet dynamics by spatial manipulations, which will have implications for materials science and quantum technologies.

DOI
10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03047

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Quantum lattices are pivotal in the burgeoning fields of quantum materials and information science. Novel experimental techniques allow the preparation and monitoring of wave packet dynamics on quantum lattices with high spatiotemporal resolution. We present an analytical study of wave packet diffusivity and diffusion length on tight-binding quantum lattices subject to stochastic noise. Our analysis reveals the crucial role of spatial coherence and predicts a set of novel phenomena: (1) noise can enhance the transient diffusivity and diffusion length of spatially extended initial states; (2) standing or traveling initial states, with large momentum, spread faster than a localized initial state and exhibit a noise-induced peak in the transient diffusivity; (3) the differences in the diffusivity or diffusion length of extended and localized initial states have a universal dependence on initial width. These predictions suggest the possibility of controlling the wave packet dynamics by spatial manipulations, which will have implications for materials science and quantum technologies.
We study the dynamics of a single-particle wave packet on a one-dimensional lattice subject to periodic random phase kicks with finite spatial correlation length. This stroboscopic setting provides a controllable model of dephasing in driven quantum systems. Using a momentum-space formulation, we show that the evolution is governed by an accumulated phase whose structure determines the spreading of the wave packet. We find that the phase kicks strongly suppress ballistic transport and induce diffusion at long times. We derive an explicit analytical expression for the diffusion coefficient as a function of the correlation length, in excellent agreement with numerical simulations. Our results uncover a simple mechanism by which spatially correlated phase noise controls quantum transport, and provide a quantitatively testable prediction for diffusion in periodically driven lattice systems. Possible experimental realizations in cold-atom platforms are discussed.
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The wave function temporal evolution on the one-dimensional (1D) lattice is considered in the tight-binding approximation.The lattice consists of N equal sites and one impurity site (donor).The donor differs from other lattice sites by the on-site electron energy E and the intersite coupling C. The moving wave packet is formed from the wave function initially localized on the donor.The exact solution for the wave packet velocity and the shape is derived at different values E and C. The velocity has the maximal possible group velocity v = 2.The wave packet width grows with time ∼ t 1/3 and its amplitude decreases ∼ t -1/3 .The wave packet reflects multiply from the lattice ends.Analytical expressions for the wave packet front propagation and recurrence are in good agreement with numeric simulations.
The wave function temporal evolution on the one-dimensional(1D) lattice is considered in the tight-binding approximation. The lattice consists of N equal sites and one impurity site(donor). The donor differs from other lattice sites by the on-site electron energy E and the intersite coupling C. The moving wave packet is formed from the wave function initially localized on the donor. The exact solution for the wave packet velocity and the shape is derived at different values E and C. The velocity has the maximal possible group velocity v = 2. The wave packet width grows with time ～ t1/3and its amplitude decreases ～ t-1/3. The wave packet reflects multiply from the lattice ends. Analytical expressions for the wave packet front propagation and recurrence are in good agreement with numeric simulations.