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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)

Simple cold-atom systems as a probe for complex dynamics

Julien Chabé, Hans Lignier, Hugo L. D. de S. Cavalcante, Maxence Lepers, Dominique Delande, Pascal Szriftgiser, Véronique Zehnlé, Jean Claude Garreau

Published Jun 1, 2007• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a very simple system consisting in laser-cooled atoms interacting with a time-modulated standing laser wave. Such a system presents a quantum dynamics that can display different chaotic behaviors like quantum-chaos and quasi-classical chaos.
DOI
10.1109/cleoe-iqec.2007.4386742

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Cold rubidium atoms are subjected to an amplitude-modulated far-detuned standing wave of light to form a quantum-driven pendulum. Here we discuss the dynamics of these atoms. Phase space resonances and chaotic transients of the system exhibit dynamics which can be useful in many atom optics applications as they can be utilized as means for phase space state preparation. We explain the occurrence of distinct peaks in the atomic momentum distribution, analyse them in detail and give evidence for the importance of the system for quantum chaos and decoherence studies.
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