Coherent control of dressed matter waves in strongly driven periodic potentials

D. Ciampini

Alessandro Zenesini, Hans Lignier, D. Ciampini +2 more

The tunneling properties of a quantum system of matter waves inside a periodic potential can be dramatically changed if the potential is driven back and forth. Similarly to an atom in a strong radiation field, the matter waves inside the strongly driven potential are "dressed" and acquire new properties. In this paper, the authors have demonstrated that such dressed matter waves can be coherently and adiabatically loaded and controlled in one, two and three dimensional strongly driven optical lattices. In the driven lattices the tunneling probability and the tunneling phase between adjacent lattice sites become a function of the driving parameters. The regimes in which the driving parameters can be changed without exciting the system have been identified, thus allowing coherent and adiabatic following. This coherent control is then used in order to reversibly induce the superfluid-Mott insulator phase transition by changing the the driving strength.

Alessandro Zenesini, Hans Lignier, D. Ciampini +2 more

We demonstrate experimentally that matter waves can be coherently and adiabatically loaded and controlled in one-, two-, and three-dimensional strongly driven optical lattices. This coherent control is then used in order to reversibly induce the superfluid-Mott insulator phase transition by changing the strength of the driving. Our findings pave the way for studies of driven quantum systems and new methods for controlling matter waves.

Kevin F. MacDonald, Eric Plum, Daniele Faccio +1 more

P. G. Kevrekidis, D. J. Frantzeskakis, R. Carretero-González

Alessandro Zenesini, Hans Lignier, Carlo Sias +3 more

The similarity between matter waves in periodic potential and solid-state physics processes has triggered the interest in quantum simulation using Bose-Fermi ultracold gases in optical lattices. The present work evidences the similarity between electrons moving under the application of oscillating electromagnetic fields and matter waves experiencing an optical lattice modulated by a frequency difference, equivalent to a spatially shaken periodic potential. We demonstrate that the tunneling properties of a Bose-Einstein condensate in shaken periodic potentials can be precisely controlled. We take additional crucial steps towards future applications of this method by proving that the strong shaking of the optical lattice preserves the coherence of the matter wavefunction and that the shaking parameters can be changed adiabatically, even in the presence of interactions. We induce reversibly the quantum phase transition to the Mott insulator in a driven periodic potential.