Physical Review A
Density-density correlation of incoherent atoms with angular momentum released from an optical lattice
Shujuan Liu, Hongwei Xiong, Baolong Lü
Abstract
For a series of incoherent and ultracold atoms with an orbital angular momentum (or vortices) released from an optical lattice, we consider the density-density correlation of this freely expanding ultracold gases. Because of the unique phase structure originating from the quantized angular momentum, it is shown that the phase structure plays an important role in the distribution of the density-density correlation through the appearance of crescent-shaped peaks accompanying the ordinary round-shaped peaks. In particular, it is found that the orientation of the crescent-shaped peaks corresponds with the rotation direction of the atoms prepared in the optical lattices.