Transport of atoms in a quantum conveyor belt

A. Browaeys, H. Häffner, C. McKenzie, S. L. Rolston, K. Helmerson, W. D. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We have performed experiments using a three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate of sodium atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice to explore some unusual properties of band structure. In particular, we investigate the loading of a condensate into a moving lattice and find nonintuitive behavior. We also revisit the behavior of atoms, prepared in a single quasimomentum state, in an accelerating lattice. We generalize this study to a cloud whose atoms have a large quasimomentum spread, and show that the cloud behaves differently from atoms in a single Bloch state. Finally, we compare our findings with recent experiments performed with fermions in an optical lattice.

Original languageEnglish
Article number053605
JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume72
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2005
Externally publishedYes

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