Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2507.16592

Distinguishing dual lattice by strong-pulse matter-wave diffraction

Fangde Liu, Wei Han, Yunda Li, Zhao, Feifan, Liangchao Chen, Lianghui Huang, Pengjun Wang, Zengming Meng, Jing Zhang

Published Jul 22, 2025• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Dual lattices such as honeycomb and hexagonal lattices typically obey Babinet's principle in optics, which states that the expected interference patterns of two complementary diffracting objects are identical and indistinguishable, except for their overall intensity. Here, we study Kapitza--Dirac diffraction of Bose--Einstein condensates in optical lattices and find that matter waves in dual lattices obey Babinet's principle only under the condition of weak-pulse Raman--Nath regimes. In contrast, the Kapitza--Dirac matter-wave diffraction in the strong-pulse Raman--Nath regime (corresponding to the phase wrapping method we developed to generate sub-wavelength phase structures in Sci. Rep. 10, 5870 (2020)) can break Babinet's principle and clearly resolve the distinct interference patterns of the dual honeycomb and hexagonal lattices. This method offers exceptional precision in characterizing lattice configurations and advance the study of symmetry-related phenomena, overcoming the limitations of real-space imaging.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2507.16592

Related papers

Observation of sub-wavelength phase structure of matter wave with two-dimensional optical lattice by Kapitza-Dirac diffraction

Kai Wen, Zengming Meng, Pengjun Wang +6 more

We report an experimental demonstration of generation and measurement of sub-wavelength phase structure of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with two-dimensional optical lattice. This is implemented by applying a short lattice pulse on BEC in the Kapitza-Dirac (or Raman-Nath) regime, which, in the classical picture, corresponds to phase modulation imprinted on matter wave. When the phase modulation is larger than 2π in a lattice cell, the periodicity of phase naturally forms the sub-wavelength phase structure. By converting the phase information into amplitude, we are able to measure the sub-wavelength structure through the momentum distribution of BEC via the time-of-flight absorption image. Beyond the classical treatment, we further demonstrate the importance of quantum fluctuations in the formation of sub-wavelength phase structure by considering different lattice configurations. Our scheme provides a powerful tool for exploring the fine structure of a lattice cell as well as topological defects in matter wave.

Scientific Reports•Apr 3, 2020•8 citations

Experimental generation of phase wraps for subwavelength phase structures in Bose-Einstein condensate with two-dimensional optical lattice

Wen, Kai, Zengming Meng, Pengjun Wang +6 more

We report an experimental demonstration of engineering phase wraps for sub-wavelength structure in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with two-dimensional optical lattices. A short lattice pulse is applied on BEC working in the Kapitza-Dirac (or Raman-Nath) regime, which corresponds to phase modulation imprint on matter wave. When the phase modulation on matter wave is larger than $2π$ in a lattice cell, there appears phase wraps with multiple $2π$ jumps, generating the sub-wavelength phase structure. The phase wraps for sub-wavelength structure are measured in momentum space via the time-of-flight absorption image, which corresponds to converting phase information into amplitude. %Two different kinds of two-dimensional optical lattice are studied, which show the different subwavelength phase structure. Moreover, we identify an additional condition for the validity of Kapitza-Dirac regime, which relies crucially on the lattice configurations. This scheme can be used for studying the property of optical lattices and topological defects in matter wave.

arXiv:1905.04823•May 13, 2019•0 citations

Signatures of spatial inversion asymmetry of an optical lattice observed in matter-wave diffraction

Claire Thomas, Thomas H. Barter, Tsz-Him Leung +2 more

The structure of a two-dimensional honeycomb optical lattice potential with small inversion asymmetry is characterized using coherent diffraction of $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms. We demonstrate that even a small potential asymmetry, with peak-to-peak amplitude of $\ensuremath{\le}2.3%$ of the overall lattice potential, can lead to pronounced inversion asymmetry in the momentum-space diffraction pattern. The observed asymmetry is explained quantitatively by considering both Kapitza-Dirac scattering in the Raman-Nath regime and also either perturbative or full-numerical treatment of the band structure of a periodic potential with a weak inversion-symmetry-breaking term. Our results have relevance for both the experimental development of coherent atom optics and the proper interpretation of time-of-flight assays of atomic materials in optical lattices.

arXiv:1601.07117•Physical Review A•Jun 13, 2016•4 citations

Analysis of Kapitza-Dirac diffraction patterns beyond the Raman-Nath regime

Bryce Gadway, Daniel Pertot, René Reimann +2 more

We study Kapitza-Dirac diffraction of a Bose-Einstein condensate from a standing light wave for a square pulse with variable pulse length but constant pulse area. We find that for sufficiently weak pulses, the usual analytical short-pulse prediction for the Raman-Nath regime continues to hold for longer times, albeit with a reduction of the apparent modulation depth of the standing wave. We quantitatively relate this effect to the Fourier width of the pulse, and draw analogies to the Rabi dynamics of a coupled two-state system. Our findings, combined with numerical modeling for stronger pulses, are of practical interest for the calibration of optical lattices in ultracold atomic systems.

arXiv:0907.3507•Optics Express•Oct 8, 2009•59 citations

Two-Body Kapitza-Dirac Scattering of One-Dimensional Ultracold Atoms

André Becker, Georgios M. Koutentakis, Peter Schmelcher

Kapitza-Dirac scattering, the diffraction of matter waves from a standing light field, is widely utilized in ultracold gases, but its behavior in the strongly interacting regime is an open question. Here we develop a numerically-exact two-body description of Kapitza-Dirac scattering for two contact-interacting atoms in a one-dimensional harmonic trap subjected to a pulsed optical lattice, enabling us to obtain the numerically exact dynamics. We map how interaction strength, lattice depth, lattice wavenumber, and pulse duration reshape the diffraction pattern, leading to an interaction-dependent population redistribution in real and momentum-space. By comparing the exact dynamics to an impulsive sudden-approximation description, we delineate the parameter regimes where it remains accurate and those, notably at strong attraction and small lattice wavenumber, where it fails. Our results provide a controlled few-body benchmark for interacting Kapitza-Dirac scattering and quantitative guidance for Kapitza-Dirac-based probes of ultracold atomic systems.

cond-mat.quant-gasCross-listedarXiv:2512.15260•Physical Review Research•Dec 18, 2025•0 citations

Nonadiabatic diffraction of matter waves

Jeremy B. Reeves, Ludwig Krinner, M. Stewart +2 more

Diffraction phenomena usually can be formulated in terms of a potential that induces the redistribution of a wave's momentum. Using an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate coupled to the orbitals of a state-selective optical lattice, we investigate a hitherto unexplored nonadiabatic regime of diffraction in which no diffracting potential can be defined and in which the adiabatic dressed states are strongly mixed. We show how, in the adiabatic limit, the observed coupling between internal and external dynamics gives way to standard Kapitza-Dirac diffraction of atomic matter waves. We demonstrate the utility of our scheme for atom interferometry and discuss prospects for studies of dissipative superfluid phenomena.

arXiv:1505.06085•Physical Review A•Aug 19, 2015•8 citations
Dual lattices such as honeycomb and hexagonal lattices typically obey Babinet's principle in optics, which states that the expected interference patterns of two complementary diffracting objects are identical and indistinguishable, except for their overall intensity. Here, we study Kapitza--Dirac diffraction of Bose--Einstein condensates in optical lattices and find that matter waves in dual lattices obey Babinet's principle only under the condition of weak-pulse Raman--Nath regimes. In contrast, the Kapitza--Dirac matter-wave diffraction in the strong-pulse Raman--Nath regime (corresponding to the phase wrapping method we developed to generate sub-wavelength phase structures in Sci. Rep. 10, 5870 (2020)) can break Babinet's principle and clearly resolve the distinct interference patterns of the dual honeycomb and hexagonal lattices. This method offers exceptional precision in characterizing lattice configurations and advance the study of symmetry-related phenomena, overcoming the limitations of real-space imaging.
We report an experimental demonstration of generation and measurement of sub-wavelength phase structure of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with two-dimensional optical lattice. This is implemented by applying a short lattice pulse on BEC in the Kapitza-Dirac (or Raman-Nath) regime, which, in the classical picture, corresponds to phase modulation imprinted on matter wave. When the phase modulation is larger than 2π in a lattice cell, the periodicity of phase naturally forms the sub-wavelength phase structure. By converting the phase information into amplitude, we are able to measure the sub-wavelength structure through the momentum distribution of BEC via the time-of-flight absorption image. Beyond the classical treatment, we further demonstrate the importance of quantum fluctuations in the formation of sub-wavelength phase structure by considering different lattice configurations. Our scheme provides a powerful tool for exploring the fine structure of a lattice cell as well as topological defects in matter wave.
We report an experimental demonstration of engineering phase wraps for sub-wavelength structure in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with two-dimensional optical lattices. A short lattice pulse is applied on BEC working in the Kapitza-Dirac (or Raman-Nath) regime, which corresponds to phase modulation imprint on matter wave. When the phase modulation on matter wave is larger than 2π2π2π in a lattice cell, there appears phase wraps with multiple 2π2π2π jumps, generating the sub-wavelength phase structure. The phase wraps for sub-wavelength structure are measured in momentum space via the time-of-flight absorption image, which corresponds to converting phase information into amplitude. %Two different kinds of two-dimensional optical lattice are studied, which show the different subwavelength phase structure. Moreover, we identify an additional condition for the validity of Kapitza-Dirac regime, which relies crucially on the lattice configurations. This scheme can be used for studying the property of optical lattices and topological defects in matter wave.
The structure of a two-dimensional honeycomb optical lattice potential with small inversion asymmetry is characterized using coherent diffraction of 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atoms. We demonstrate that even a small potential asymmetry, with peak-to-peak amplitude of $\ensuremath{\le}2.3%$ of the overall lattice potential, can lead to pronounced inversion asymmetry in the momentum-space diffraction pattern. The observed asymmetry is explained quantitatively by considering both Kapitza-Dirac scattering in the Raman-Nath regime and also either perturbative or full-numerical treatment of the band structure of a periodic potential with a weak inversion-symmetry-breaking term. Our results have relevance for both the experimental development of coherent atom optics and the proper interpretation of time-of-flight assays of atomic materials in optical lattices.
We study Kapitza-Dirac diffraction of a Bose-Einstein condensate from a standing light wave for a square pulse with variable pulse length but constant pulse area. We find that for sufficiently weak pulses, the usual analytical short-pulse prediction for the Raman-Nath regime continues to hold for longer times, albeit with a reduction of the apparent modulation depth of the standing wave. We quantitatively relate this effect to the Fourier width of the pulse, and draw analogies to the Rabi dynamics of a coupled two-state system. Our findings, combined with numerical modeling for stronger pulses, are of practical interest for the calibration of optical lattices in ultracold atomic systems.
Kapitza-Dirac scattering, the diffraction of matter waves from a standing light field, is widely utilized in ultracold gases, but its behavior in the strongly interacting regime is an open question. Here we develop a numerically-exact two-body description of Kapitza-Dirac scattering for two contact-interacting atoms in a one-dimensional harmonic trap subjected to a pulsed optical lattice, enabling us to obtain the numerically exact dynamics. We map how interaction strength, lattice depth, lattice wavenumber, and pulse duration reshape the diffraction pattern, leading to an interaction-dependent population redistribution in real and momentum-space. By comparing the exact dynamics to an impulsive sudden-approximation description, we delineate the parameter regimes where it remains accurate and those, notably at strong attraction and small lattice wavenumber, where it fails. Our results provide a controlled few-body benchmark for interacting Kapitza-Dirac scattering and quantitative guidance for Kapitza-Dirac-based probes of ultracold atomic systems.
Diffraction phenomena usually can be formulated in terms of a potential that induces the redistribution of a wave's momentum. Using an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate coupled to the orbitals of a state-selective optical lattice, we investigate a hitherto unexplored nonadiabatic regime of diffraction in which no diffracting potential can be defined and in which the adiabatic dressed states are strongly mixed. We show how, in the adiabatic limit, the observed coupling between internal and external dynamics gives way to standard Kapitza-Dirac diffraction of atomic matter waves. We demonstrate the utility of our scheme for atom interferometry and discuss prospects for studies of dissipative superfluid phenomena.