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

Observation of Dynamical Localization in Atomic Momentum Transfer: A New Testing Ground for Quantum Chaos

F. L. Moore, J. C. Robinson, C. F. Bharucha, Peggy E. Williams, Mark G. Raizen

Published Nov 28, 1994• 390 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report a direct observation of dynamical localization. This effect is a quantum suppression of diffusion in a system that is classically chaotic. Our experiment measures the momentum transferred from a modulated standing wave of a near-resonant laser to a sample of ultracold atoms and is a realization of a periodically driven rotor. The conceptual simplicity and experimental control over the time dependent Hamiltonian make this system an ideal testing ground for the predictions of quantum chaos.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.73.2974

Related papers

Study of Quantum Dynamics in the Transition from Classical Stability to Chaos

J. C. Robinson, C. F. Bharucha, F. L. Moore +5 more

We report an experimental and theoretical study of momentum transfer from a modulated standing wave of light to a sample of ultracold atoms. This system is a quantum realization of the periodically driven rotor where the underlying classical phase space goes from stable to chaotic as a control parameter is varied. Our experimental results are in good absolute agreement with a quantum Floquet analysis and with a quantum simulation. We relate the quantum evolution to the underlying classical dynamics in this mixed phase space regime.

Physical Review Letters•May 15, 1995•103 citations

An experimental realization of the quantum -kicked rotor

Mark G. Raizen, F L Moore, J C Robinson +2 more

We study experimentally quantum effects in atomic motion for a classically chaotic regime. A standing wave is pulsed on periodically in time, and the resulting atomic momentum is measured. Momentum grows diffusively until the quantum break time, after which dynamical localization is observed. Quantum resonances are observed for certain pulse durations.

Quantum and Semiclassical Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B•Jun 1, 1996•12 citations

Dynamical localization of ultracold sodium atoms

C. F. Bharucha, J. C. Robinson, F. L. Moore +3 more

We report a study of atomic motion in time-dependent optical potentials. We measure momentum transfer in parameter regimes for which the classical dynamics are chaotic, and observe the quantum suppression of chaos by dynamical localization. The high degree of control over the experimental parameters enables detailed comparisons with theoretical predictions, and opens new avenues for investigating quantum chaos.

Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics•Oct 1, 1999•65 citations

Dimensional effects on dynamical localization with cold cesium atoms

Jean Ringot, P. Szrfitgiser, Jean Claude Garreau +1 more

Summary form only given. Dynamical localization is one of the signatures of quantum chaos most intensely studied in recent years. These studies rely on the experimental realization of a kicked rotor by placing cold atoms in a far detuned, periodically driven, stationary wave. For a set of parameters such that the classical limit of such a system shows a chaotic diffusive motion in the momentum space, quantum interferences have been shown to suppress the chaotic diffusion in the quantum case. The momentum distribution then presents a characteristic double exponential form. We have performed an experiment in which dynamical localization is studied in the presence of a stationary wave driven by two series of pulses that can have commensurable or incommensurable frequencies, which can be shown to be formally equivalent to perform the experiment in two dimensions. We have thus shown that localization is still observed when the two frequencies are commensurable, but that the classical diffusion in momentum space persists for a much longer time if the frequencies are incommensurable.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Aug 29, 2005•0 citations

Experimental Study of Quantum Dynamics in a Regime of Classical Anomalous Diffusion

Bruce G. Klappauf, Windell H. Oskay, D. Steck +1 more

We measure the momentum of cold cesium atoms in a periodically pulsed standing wave of light. This system is an experimental realization of the quantum kicked rotor. The momentum diffusion in the (chaotic) classical analog of this system is typically suppressed by quantum localization. We find, however, that for certain pulse amplitudes where the classical system exhibits anomalous diffusion, our momentum distributions are not exponentially localized. We observe a predicted correspondence between the classical and quantum energy growth as a function of pulse amplitude and period.

Physical Review Letters•Nov 9, 1998•72 citations

Experimental study of quantum chaos with cold atoms

M. G. Raizen

We describe our experimental study of quantum chaos with ultracold atom moving in optical lattices. We observe dynamic localization, a quantum suppression of chaotic diffusion, in an experimental realization of the quantum kicked rotor.

Philosophical Magazine B•Dec 1, 2000•13 citations
We report a direct observation of dynamical localization. This effect is a quantum suppression of diffusion in a system that is classically chaotic. Our experiment measures the momentum transferred from a modulated standing wave of a near-resonant laser to a sample of ultracold atoms and is a realization of a periodically driven rotor. The conceptual simplicity and experimental control over the time dependent Hamiltonian make this system an ideal testing ground for the predictions of quantum chaos.
We report an experimental and theoretical study of momentum transfer from a modulated standing wave of light to a sample of ultracold atoms. This system is a quantum realization of the periodically driven rotor where the underlying classical phase space goes from stable to chaotic as a control parameter is varied. Our experimental results are in good absolute agreement with a quantum Floquet analysis and with a quantum simulation. We relate the quantum evolution to the underlying classical dynamics in this mixed phase space regime.
Summary form only given. Dynamical localization is one of the signatures of quantum chaos most intensely studied in recent years. These studies rely on the experimental realization of a kicked rotor by placing cold atoms in a far detuned, periodically driven, stationary wave. For a set of parameters such that the classical limit of such a system shows a chaotic diffusive motion in the momentum space, quantum interferences have been shown to suppress the chaotic diffusion in the quantum case. The momentum distribution then presents a characteristic double exponential form. We have performed an experiment in which dynamical localization is studied in the presence of a stationary wave driven by two series of pulses that can have commensurable or incommensurable frequencies, which can be shown to be formally equivalent to perform the experiment in two dimensions. We have thus shown that localization is still observed when the two frequencies are commensurable, but that the classical diffusion in momentum space persists for a much longer time if the frequencies are incommensurable.
We measure the momentum of cold cesium atoms in a periodically pulsed standing wave of light. This system is an experimental realization of the quantum kicked rotor. The momentum diffusion in the (chaotic) classical analog of this system is typically suppressed by quantum localization. We find, however, that for certain pulse amplitudes where the classical system exhibits anomalous diffusion, our momentum distributions are not exponentially localized. We observe a predicted correspondence between the classical and quantum energy growth as a function of pulse amplitude and period.