Nonlocal quantum superpositions of bright matter-wave solitons and dimers
Abstract
The scattering of bright quantum solitons at barrier potentials in one-dimensional geometries is investigated. Such protocols have been predicted to lead to the creation of nonlocal quantum superpositions. The centre-of-mass motion of these bright matter-wave solitons generated from attractive Bose-Einstein condensates can be analysed with the effective potential approach. An application to the case of two particles being scattered at a delta potential allows analytical calculations not possible for higher particle numbers as well as a comparison with numerical results. Both for the dimer and a soliton with particle numbers on the order of N = 100, we investigate the signatures of the coherent superposition states in an interferometric setup and argue that experimentally an interference pattern would be particularly well observable in the centre-of-mass density. Quantum superposition states of ultra-cold atoms are interesting as input states for matter-wave interferometry as they could improve signal-to-noise ratios.
- Publication:
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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular Physics
- Pub Date:
- August 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0953-4075/45/16/165301
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1208.4984
- Bibcode:
- 2012JPhB...45p5301G
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Quantum Gases
- E-Print:
- 10 pagers, 5 figures, references: error corrected