Quantum slow motion
Abstract
We simulate the center of mass motion of cold atoms in a standing, amplitude modulated, laser field as an example of a system that has a classical mixed phase-space. We show a simple model to explain the momentum distribution of the atoms taken after any distinct number of modulation cycles. The peaks corresponding to a classical resonance move towards smaller velocities in comparison to the velocities of the classical resonances. We explain this by showing that, for a wave packet on the classical resonances, we can replace the complicated dynamics in the quantum Liouville equation in phase-space by the classical dynamics in a modified potential. Therefore we can describe the quantum mechanical motion of a wave packet on a classical resonance by a purely classical motion.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9901001,
title = {Quantum slow motion},
author = {M. Hug and G. J. Milburn},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9901001},
year = {2007}
}