Physical Review A
Fractional quantum revivals in the atomic gravitational cavity
Wenyu Chen, Gerard J Milburn
Abstract
In this paper we discuss the quantum dynamics and fractional quantum revivals of an integrable nonlinear system, consisting of an atom bouncing vertically from an evanescent field, for two cases with the simplified infinite-potential and the more practical exponential potential, respectively. We study the two cases separately, then contrast and compare the results and reach the conclusion that provided the starting position of the atoms is not too close to the reflecting surface supporting the evanescent wave (this condition is always satisfied in present experiments in this field), the two cases will produce the same results. This means that the idealized infinite potential is a good approximation to the more realistic exponential potential. Because the quantum analysis of the infinite-potential case is quite simple and straighforward (since its Schr\"odinger equation has analytical solutions), this will greatly simplify the quantum analysis of the more complicated exponential potential case and hence has practical significance.