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 A

Observation of Landau-Zener tunneling through atomic current in the optical lattices

Jie-Yun Yan, Suqing Duan, Wei Zhang, Xian-Geng Zhao

Published May 8, 2009• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The atomic current in the Fourier-synthesized optical lattices under a constant external force is investigated theoretically. Based on a two-band model, the atomic current is derived by solving the Boltzmann equations. We find that the stationary atomic current changes with the probability of Landau-Zener tunneling, depending on the adjustable energy structure of the optical lattices. In contrast to the classical results of an electron in superlattices given by the Esaki-Tsu equations, the relation between the stationary atomic current and the strength of the external force in optical lattices is modified significantly. Both these characteristics can be taken as an effective way to observe the Landau-Zener tunneling in the optical lattices.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.79.053613

Related papers

Atomic Landau-Zener Tunneling in Fourier-Synthesized Optical Lattices

Tobias Salger, Carsten Geckeler, Sebastian Kling +1 more

We report on an experimental study of quantum transport of atoms in variable periodic optical potentials. The band structure of both ratchet-type asymmetric and symmetric lattice potentials is explored. The variable atom potential is realized by superimposing a conventional standing wave potential of lambda/2 spatial periodicity with a fourth-order multiphoton potential of lambda/4 periodicity. We find that the Landau-Zener tunneling rate between the first and the second excited Bloch band depends critically on the relative phase between the two spatial lattice harmonics.

arXiv:0707.1980•Physical Review Letters•Nov 6, 2007•127 citations

Atomic Bloch-Zener Oscillations and Stückelberg Interferometry in Optical Lattices

Sebastian Kling, Tobias Salger, Christopher Grossert +1 more

We report on experiments investigating quantum transport and band interferometry of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice with a two-band miniband structure, realized with a Fourier-synthesized optical lattice potential. Bloch-Zener oscillations, the coherent superposition of Bloch oscillations and Landau-Zener tunneling between the two bands, are observed. When the relative phase between paths in different bands is varied, an interference signal is observed, demonstrating the coherence of the dynamics in the miniband system. Measured fringe patterns of this Stückelberg interferometer allow us to interferometrically map out the band structure of the optical lattice over the full Brillouin zone.

Physical Review Letters•Nov 16, 2010•106 citations

Atomic Bloch-Zener Oscillations and Stückelberg Interferometry in Optical Lattices

Sebastian Kling, Tobias Salger, Christopher Grossert +1 more

We report on experiments investigating quantum transport and band interferometry of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice with a two-band miniband structure, realized with a Fourier-synthesized optical lattice potential. Bloch-Zener oscillations, the coherent superposition of Bloch oscillations and Landau-Zener tunneling between the two bands are observed. When the relative phase between paths in different bands is varied, an interference signal is observed, demonstrating the coherence of the dynamics in the miniband system. Measured fringe patterns of this Stückelberg interferometer allow to interferometrically map out the band structure of the optical lattice over the full Brillouin zone.

arXiv:1006.2358•Jun 11, 2010•2 citations

Landau-Zener tunneling behaviors of Bose-Einstein condensates in a dichromatic optical lattice

Xi Yu-Dong, Denglong Wang, She Yan-Chao +3 more

With considering Bose-Einstein condensates to be confined in a periodic dichromatic optical lattice, Bloch energy band structure and Landau-Zener tunneling behaviors of the first and second band gaps are studied in this paper. It is shown that when the relative phase between the two lattices increases from 0 to π, the width of the first band gap in the Bloch energy band increases, while the width of the second band gap decreases. Meanwhile, it is found that the depth and the relative phase between the two lattices have both an important effect on Landau-Zener tunneling properties.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2010•13 citations

Experimental properties of Bose-Einstein condensates in one-dimensional optical lattices: Bloch oscillations, Landau-Zener tunneling, and mean-field effects

Matteo Cristiani, O. Morsch, Jörg Helge Müller +2 more

We report experimental results on the properties of Bose-Einstein condensates in one-dimensional optical lattices. By accelerating the lattice, we observed Bloch oscillations of the condensate in the lowest band, as well as Landau-Zener (LZ) tunneling into higher bands when the lattice depth was reduced and/or the acceleration of the lattice was increased. The dependence of the LZ tunneling rate on the condensate density was then related to mean-field effects modifying the effective potential acting on the condensate, yielding good agreement with recent theoretical work. We also present several methods for measuring the lattice depth and discuss the effects of the micromotion in the time-orbiting-potential trap on our experimental results.

arXiv:cond-mat/0202053•Physical Review A•Jun 13, 2002•208 citations

Atomic Landau-Zener Tunneling and Wannier-Stark Ladders in Optical Potentials

Qian Niu, Xian-Geng Zhao, G. A. Georgakis +1 more

We calculate the quantum motion of ultracold atoms in an accelerating optical potential, and show how they may be used to observe Landau-Zener tunneling and Wannier-Stark ladders, two fundamental quantum effects in solid state physics. The optical potential is spatially periodic, yielding an energy spectrum of Bloch bands for the atoms. The acceleration provides an inertial force in the moving frame, emulating an electric force on Bloch electrons.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 10, 1996•190 citations
The atomic current in the Fourier-synthesized optical lattices under a constant external force is investigated theoretically. Based on a two-band model, the atomic current is derived by solving the Boltzmann equations. We find that the stationary atomic current changes with the probability of Landau-Zener tunneling, depending on the adjustable energy structure of the optical lattices. In contrast to the classical results of an electron in superlattices given by the Esaki-Tsu equations, the relation between the stationary atomic current and the strength of the external force in optical lattices is modified significantly. Both these characteristics can be taken as an effective way to observe the Landau-Zener tunneling in the optical lattices.
We report on an experimental study of quantum transport of atoms in variable periodic optical potentials. The band structure of both ratchet-type asymmetric and symmetric lattice potentials is explored. The variable atom potential is realized by superimposing a conventional standing wave potential of lambda/2 spatial periodicity with a fourth-order multiphoton potential of lambda/4 periodicity. We find that the Landau-Zener tunneling rate between the first and the second excited Bloch band depends critically on the relative phase between the two spatial lattice harmonics.
We report on experiments investigating quantum transport and band interferometry of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice with a two-band miniband structure, realized with a Fourier-synthesized optical lattice potential. Bloch-Zener oscillations, the coherent superposition of Bloch oscillations and Landau-Zener tunneling between the two bands, are observed. When the relative phase between paths in different bands is varied, an interference signal is observed, demonstrating the coherence of the dynamics in the miniband system. Measured fringe patterns of this Stückelberg interferometer allow us to interferometrically map out the band structure of the optical lattice over the full Brillouin zone.
We report on experiments investigating quantum transport and band interferometry of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice with a two-band miniband structure, realized with a Fourier-synthesized optical lattice potential. Bloch-Zener oscillations, the coherent superposition of Bloch oscillations and Landau-Zener tunneling between the two bands are observed. When the relative phase between paths in different bands is varied, an interference signal is observed, demonstrating the coherence of the dynamics in the miniband system. Measured fringe patterns of this Stückelberg interferometer allow to interferometrically map out the band structure of the optical lattice over the full Brillouin zone.
With considering Bose-Einstein condensates to be confined in a periodic dichromatic optical lattice, Bloch energy band structure and Landau-Zener tunneling behaviors of the first and second band gaps are studied in this paper. It is shown that when the relative phase between the two lattices increases from 0 to π, the width of the first band gap in the Bloch energy band increases, while the width of the second band gap decreases. Meanwhile, it is found that the depth and the relative phase between the two lattices have both an important effect on Landau-Zener tunneling properties.
We report experimental results on the properties of Bose-Einstein condensates in one-dimensional optical lattices. By accelerating the lattice, we observed Bloch oscillations of the condensate in the lowest band, as well as Landau-Zener (LZ) tunneling into higher bands when the lattice depth was reduced and/or the acceleration of the lattice was increased. The dependence of the LZ tunneling rate on the condensate density was then related to mean-field effects modifying the effective potential acting on the condensate, yielding good agreement with recent theoretical work. We also present several methods for measuring the lattice depth and discuss the effects of the micromotion in the time-orbiting-potential trap on our experimental results.