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Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Controlling the stability of motion in atom-optics billiards

N. Friedman, Ariel Kaplan, Dina Carasso, Nir Davidson

Published Nov 13, 2002• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Summary form only given. The motion of a particle inside a closed area surrounded by reflecting walls can be integrable or chaotic, depending on the shape of the boundary. These billiards serve as a good and simple model to study chaotic dynamics both classically and quantum mechanically. Recently, we realized an "atom-optics billiard", where ultra-cold atoms are trapped inside a dark optical trap, whose shape can be varied to create different atom dynamics. In this work we describe how scattering and wall softness influence the dynamics of the atoms, and destroy or create stability.

DOI
10.1109/qels.2001.961932

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Summary form only given. The motion of a particle inside a closed area surrounded by reflecting walls can be integrable or chaotic, depending on the shape of the boundary. These billiards serve as a good and simple model to study chaotic dynamics both classically and quantum mechanically. Recently, we realized an "atom-optics billiard", where ultra-cold atoms are trapped inside a dark optical trap, whose shape can be varied to create different atom dynamics. In this work we describe how scattering and wall softness influence the dynamics of the atoms, and destroy or create stability.
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One of the central paradigms for classical and quantum chaos in conservative systems is the two-dimensional billiard in which particles are confined to a closed region in the plane, undergoing elastic collisions with the walls and free motion in between. We report the first realization of billiards using ultracold atoms bouncing off beams of light. These beams create the desired spatial pattern, forming an "optical billiard." We find excellent agreement between theory and our experimental demonstration of chaotic and stable motion in optical billiards, establishing a new testing ground for classical and quantum chaos.