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arXiv:quant-ph/0112109 · Physical Review A

Theoretical analysis of quantum dynamics in one-dimensional lattices: Wannier-Stark description

Quentin Thommen, Jean Claude Garreau, Véronique Zehnlé

Published Apr 22, 2002• 53 citations
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Abstract

This paper presents a formalism describing the dynamics of a quantum particle in a one-dimensional, tilted, time-dependent lattice. The description uses the Wannier-Stark states, which are localized in each site of the lattice, and provides a simple framework leading to fully analytical developments. Particular attention is devoted to the case of a time-dependent potential, which results in a rich variety of quantum coherent dynamics.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.65.053406

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This paper presents a formalism describing the dynamics of a quantum particle in a one-dimensional, tilted, time-dependent lattice. The description uses the Wannier-Stark states, which are localized in each site of the lattice, and provides a simple framework leading to fully analytical developments. Particular attention is devoted to the case of a time-dependent potential, which results in a rich variety of quantum coherent dynamics.
We study theoretical transitions between the localized and chaotic many-body regimes in one-dimensional quantum lattice systems with long-range couplings between particles and linear external potential. In terms of established criteria characterizing localization, we construct effective phase diagrams for several types of lattice systems with variable amplitude of the external linear tilt and interaction strength. By means of exact diagonalization and time-dependent variational principle numerical approaches we analyze system dynamics after quenches. Our results reveal that the Stark localization without any artificial source of disorder remains stable upon inclusion of long-range interactions.
We investigate the quantum dynamics of a particle subjected to a linear potential using the Lewis--Riesenfeld invariant operator method. Starting from the time-dependent Schrödinger equation associated with a constant external force, we construct the most general Hermitian quadratic invariant and derive the corresponding coupled differential equations for its time-dependent coefficients. By means of an appropriate sequence of unitary transformations, the invariant operator is reduced to the form of a harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian. This reduction enables a clear classification of the system according to the sign of the conserved quantity ω2. Particular attention is devoted to the physically relevant case ω2 >0, which yields a discrete eigenspectrum. Explicit analytical expressions for the invariant coefficients, the displacement parameters, and the transformed wave functions are obtained. The resulting formalism provides an exact quantum description of a particle under a constant force and establishes a direct connection between invariant theory and harmonic oscillator quantization.
Stimulated by the experimental realization of spin-dependent tunneling via a gradient magnetic field [C. J. Kennedy et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 225301 (2013); M. Aidelsburger et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 185301 (2013)], we investigate the dynamics of Bloch oscillations and Landau-Zener tunneling of single spin-half particles in a periodic potential under the influence of a spin-dependent constant force. In analogy to the Wannier-Stark system, we call our system the Wannier-Zeeman system. If there is no coupling between the two spin states, the system can be described by two crossing Wannier-Stark ladders with opposite tilts. The spatial crossing between two Wannier-Stark ladders becomes a spatial anticrossing if the two spin states are coupled by external fields. For a wave packet away from the spatial anticrossing, due to the spin-dependent constant force, it will undergo spatial Landau-Zener transitions assisted by the intrinsic intraband Bloch oscillations, which we call the Bloch-Landau-Zener dynamics. If the interspin coupling is sufficiently strong, the system undergoes adiabatic Bloch-Landau-Zener dynamics, in which the spin dynamics follows the local dressed states. Otherwise, for nonstrong interspin couplings, the system undergoes nonadiabatic Bloch-Landau-Zener dynamics.
The dynamics of cold Bose atoms in driven tilted optical lattices is analyzed focusing on destruction of Wannier-Stark localization and the phenomenon of band collapse. It is argued that an understanding of the experimental results requires thorough account for interaction effects. These are suppression of the ballistic spreading of atoms for resonant driving (a multiple of the driving frequency coincides with the Bloch frequency) and unbounded sub-diffusive spreading of atoms for off-resonant driving.