arXiv:cond-mat/0506407 · International Journal of Modern Physics B
JOSEPHSON DYNAMICS OF A BOSE–EINSTEIN CONDENSATE IN AN ACCELERATED DOUBLE-WELL POTENTIAL
Aranya B. Bhattacherjee
Abstract
Motivated by a recent experiment on Bloch oscillation of Bose–Einstein condensates (BEC) in accelerated optical lattices, we consider the Josephson dynamics of a BEC in an accelerated double-well potential. We show that acceleration suppresses coherent population / phase oscillation between the two wells. Accelerating the double-well renders the Josephson coupling energy EJ time-dependent and this emerges as a source of dissipation. This dissipative mechanism helps to stabilize the system. The results are used to interpret a recent experimental result (M. Jona-Lasinio, O. Morsh, M. Cristiani E. Arimonod and C. Menotti, cond-mat / 0501572).