Phase-control of directed diffusion in a symmetric optical lattice
Quantum Physics
2009-11-10 v1
Abstract
We demonstrate the phenomenon of directed diffusion in a symmetric periodic potential. This has been realized with cold atoms in a one-dimensional dissipative optical lattice. The stochastic process of optical pumping leads to a diffusive dynamics of the atoms through the periodic structure, while a zero-mean force which breaks the temporal symmetry of the system is applied by phase-modulating one of the lattice beams. The atoms are set into directed motion as a result of the breaking of the temporal symmetry of the system.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0309208,
title = {Phase-control of directed diffusion in a symmetric optical lattice},
author = {Michele Schiavoni and Laurent Sanchez-Palencia and Ferruccio Renzoni and Gilbert Grynberg},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0309208},
year = {2009}
}