English

Phase-space representation of diffraction in time: Analytic results

Quantum Physics 2022-03-24 v2 Atomic Physics Optics

Abstract

Diffraction in time manifests itself as the appearance of probability-density fringes when a matter wave passes through an opaque screen with abrupt temporal variations of transmission properties. Here we analytically describe the phase-space structure of diffraction-in-time fringes for a class of smooth time gratings. More precisely, we obtain an analytic expression for the Husimi distribution representing the state of the system in the case of time gratings comprising a succession of Lorentzian-like slits. In particular, for a double-slit scenario, we derive a simple and intuitive expression that accurately captures the position of interference fringes in phase space.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2110.03592,
  title  = {Phase-space representation of diffraction in time: Analytic results},
  author = {Maximilien Barbier and Arseni Goussev},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2110.03592},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

More condensed as compared to v1: now 25 pages main text, 18 pages appendices; 5 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-24T06:42:47.781Z