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Anderson localization of expanding Bose-Einstein condensates in random potentials.
L Sanchez-Palencia1, D Clément, P Lugan
1Laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique, CNRS and Univ. Paris-Sud, Campus Polytechnique, RD 128, F-91127 Palaiseau cedex, France.
Physical Review Letters
|August 7, 2007
Summary
We demonstrate Anderson localization in 1D Bose-Einstein condensates within random potentials. The type of localization, whether exponential or algebraic, depends on the condensate
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Atomic physics
Background:
- Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are quantum states of matter formed by cooling bosons to near absolute zero.
- Anderson localization describes the quantum interference that prevents wave propagation in disordered systems.
- Understanding wave behavior in disordered quantum systems is crucial for quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Anderson localization in an expanding one-dimensional (1D) interacting Bose-Einstein condensate.
- To determine the influence of a weak random potential on the condensate's expansion dynamics.
- To analyze the relationship between condensate healing length and localization behavior.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of an expanding 1D interacting Bose-Einstein condensate.
- Introduction of a weak random potential with a specific correlation length (sigma R).
- Analysis of the Lyapunov exponent in the Born approximation for different momentum regimes.
Main Results:
- The expanding condensate exhibits Anderson localization in a weak random potential.
- For speckle potentials, the Fourier transform of the correlation function limits the relevant momenta.
- The localization transitions from exponential to algebraic based on the ratio of initial healing length (xi(in)) to correlation length (sigma R).
Conclusions:
- The expansion dynamics of 1D Bose-Einstein condensates are significantly affected by Anderson localization.
- The interplay between the condensate's healing length and the random potential's correlation length dictates the localization type.
- This study provides insights into quantum transport in disordered interacting systems.
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