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

Physical Review Letters

Delta Kick Cooling: A New Method for Cooling Atoms

H. Ammann, Nelson L Christensen

Published Mar 17, 1997• 164 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a new technique for cooling atoms below the photon recoil temperature. Free expansion and a subsequent application of a pulsed potential narrows the momentum distribution provided the atoms were initially well localized. Time scales for this cooling mechanism are shorter than those for other techniques. We give the one dimensional results for quantum and classical distributions of atoms initially held in an optical lattice or a dipole trap. The pulsed lattice potential is the same as that used in the recent atom optics realization of the quantum delta kicked rotor.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.78.2088

Related papers

Atom Optics Realization of the Quantum δ -Kicked Rotor

F. L. Moore, J. C. Robinson, C. F. Bharucha +2 more

We report the first direct experimental realization of the quantum $\ensuremath{\delta}$-kicked rotor. Our system consists of a dilute sample of ultracold sodium atoms in a periodic standing wave of near-resonant light that is pulsed on periodically in time to approximate a series of delta functions. Momentum spread of the atoms increases diffusively with every pulse until the "quantum break time" after which exponentially localized distributions are observed. Quantum resonances are found for specific values of the pulse period.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 18, 1995•625 citations

{delta}-kick cooling using the Ioffe-Pritchard potential

T. Aoki, Takuya Kato, Yasunori Tanami +1 more

We demonstrated {delta}-kick cooling of sodium atoms with a three-dimensional anisotropic harmonic potential. The radius and temperature of the atomic cloud oscillated with kick time, indicating that the elongated atomic distribution in phase space rotates in the Ioffe-Pritchard potential. The temperature of kicked atoms was reduced to below the recoil temperature.

Physical Review A•Jun 15, 2006•0 citations

Modified “δ-kick cooling” using magnetic field gradients

Stefan H. Myrskog, J. K. Fox, Han Seb Moon +2 more

We present an improved and simplified version of ``\ensuremath{\delta}-kick cooling.'' By application of a pulsed magnetic field, laser-cooled Rb atoms are cooled in one dimension, by a factor of 10 below the temperature of optical molasses. While phase-space density is conserved in this process, the method is more efficient than adiabatic expansion. We have achieved temperatures below 700 nK, but there is no fundamental limit to this cooling technique. The technique can also be used as an atom lens and as a spin-dependent probe. We show preliminary results suggesting interesting spin-temperature correlations within an optical molasses.

Physical Review A•Apr 19, 2000•27 citations

Delta-kick cooling, time-optimal control of scale-invariant dynamics, and shortcuts to adiabaticity assisted by kicks

Léonce Dupays, David Spierings, Aephraim M. Steinberg +1 more

Delta-kick cooling (DKC) is used to compress the momentum distribution of ultracold quantum matter. It combines expansion dynamics with the use of kick pulses, designed via classical methods, that bring the system to rest. We introduce an exact approach to DKC for arbitrary scale-invariant dynamics of quantum gases, lifting the original restrictions to free evolution and noninteracting systems, to account for the control of atomic clouds in a time-dependent harmonic trap that can be either repulsive (inverted) or confining. We show that DKC assisted by a repulsive potential outperforms the conventional scheme, and that sudden trap-frequency quenches combined with DKC are equivalent to time-optimal bang-bang protocols. We further show that reverse engineering of the scale-invariant dynamics under smooth trap-frequency modulations can be combined with DKC to introduce a new class of shortcuts to adiabaticity assisted by kicks.

arXiv:2104.00999•Physical Review Research•Sep 17, 2021•18 citations

δ -kick cooling using the Ioffe-Pritchard potential

T. Aoki, Takuya Kato, Yasunori Tanami +1 more

We demonstrated $\ensuremath{\delta}$-kick cooling of sodium atoms with a three-dimensional anisotropic harmonic potential. The radius and temperature of the atomic cloud oscillated with kick time, indicating that the elongated atomic distribution in phase space rotates in the Ioffe-Pritchard potential. The temperature of kicked atoms was reduced to below the recoil temperature.

Physical Review A•Jun 2, 2006•9 citations

Squeezing Atomic Vibrations In An Optical Lattice. A New Mechanism Of Optical Cooling

Alexander L. Burin, Joseph L. Birman, A. Bulatov +1 more

We propose a new method to obtain a squeezed matter field of atomic vibrations by use of an optical lattice, and the laser pulse technique of Garrett et al used for acoustic phonons [1]. We show that it is possible to reduce the variance of atomic momentum to a value as low as the recoil momentum. Consequently, cooling to recoil energy can be achieved.

arXiv:cond-mat/9708113•Aug 15, 1997•0 citations
We present a new technique for cooling atoms below the photon recoil temperature. Free expansion and a subsequent application of a pulsed potential narrows the momentum distribution provided the atoms were initially well localized. Time scales for this cooling mechanism are shorter than those for other techniques. We give the one dimensional results for quantum and classical distributions of atoms initially held in an optical lattice or a dipole trap. The pulsed lattice potential is the same as that used in the recent atom optics realization of the quantum delta kicked rotor.
We report the first direct experimental realization of the quantum $\ensuremath{\delta}$-kicked rotor. Our system consists of a dilute sample of ultracold sodium atoms in a periodic standing wave of near-resonant light that is pulsed on periodically in time to approximate a series of delta functions. Momentum spread of the atoms increases diffusively with every pulse until the "quantum break time" after which exponentially localized distributions are observed. Quantum resonances are found for specific values of the pulse period.
We present an improved and simplified version of ``\ensuremath{\delta}-kick cooling.'' By application of a pulsed magnetic field, laser-cooled Rb atoms are cooled in one dimension, by a factor of 10 below the temperature of optical molasses. While phase-space density is conserved in this process, the method is more efficient than adiabatic expansion. We have achieved temperatures below 700 nK, but there is no fundamental limit to this cooling technique. The technique can also be used as an atom lens and as a spin-dependent probe. We show preliminary results suggesting interesting spin-temperature correlations within an optical molasses.
Delta-kick cooling (DKC) is used to compress the momentum distribution of ultracold quantum matter. It combines expansion dynamics with the use of kick pulses, designed via classical methods, that bring the system to rest. We introduce an exact approach to DKC for arbitrary scale-invariant dynamics of quantum gases, lifting the original restrictions to free evolution and noninteracting systems, to account for the control of atomic clouds in a time-dependent harmonic trap that can be either repulsive (inverted) or confining. We show that DKC assisted by a repulsive potential outperforms the conventional scheme, and that sudden trap-frequency quenches combined with DKC are equivalent to time-optimal bang-bang protocols. We further show that reverse engineering of the scale-invariant dynamics under smooth trap-frequency modulations can be combined with DKC to introduce a new class of shortcuts to adiabaticity assisted by kicks.