Effects of magnetic fields on wave-packet dynamics in an optical lattice
Abstract
We study the dynamics of wave-packet motion of laser-cooled ^87Rb atoms in a gray optical lattice, which is generated by two counterpropagating laser beams with orthogonal linear polarizations and a detuning of +35 MHz from the F=2-F'=2 hyperfine component of the 5S_1/2 - 5P_1/2 transition. The wave-packets are excited by a sudden spatial shift of the lattice, and probed using a noninvasive method that yields the average electric-dipole force acting on the atoms. We observe and explain the effect of magnetic-field-induced well-to-well tunneling resonances on the wave-packet motion. Further, we find that certain lattice parameters afford the generation of coherently separated wave-packet components evolving on different optical potentials. Measurements will be discussed that reflect the spatial separation and subsequent recombination of the wave-packet components.
- Publication:
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APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..DMP.N5008M