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Laser controlled tunneling in a vertical optical lattice.
Q Beaufils1, G Tackmann, X Wang
1LNE-SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, LNE, CNRS, UPMC, 61 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France.
Physical Review Letters
|June 25, 2011
Summary
Researchers used Raman laser pulses to control coherent tunneling between sites in optical lattices. This method allows for precise manipulation of cold atoms, crucial for advancing quantum information processing.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Quantum Information Science
Background:
- Coherent tunneling is essential for manipulating quantum states.
- Wannier-Stark (WS) states in optical lattices offer a platform for studying quantum phenomena.
- Controlling the coherence of quantum states is vital for quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate coherent tunneling between neighboring sites in a vertical 1D optical lattice.
- To demonstrate spectroscopic control over the coupling between WS states.
- To measure the coherence time of WS state superpositions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Raman laser pulses to induce coherent tunneling.
- Employing a probe laser with specific detuning to match Bloch frequency multiples.
- Preparing coherent superpositions of WS states of adjacent sites.
- Implementing a spatial interferometer to measure coherence time.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful induction of coherent tunneling between lattice sites.
- Achieved spectroscopic control over the coupling of WS states.
- Measured the coherence time of prepared superpositions, indicating the feasibility of the method.
Conclusions:
- The developed scheme offers a powerful tool for coherent manipulation of cold atoms.
- This technique is crucial for advancing quantum information processing applications.
- Spectroscopic control of tunneling provides a new avenue for quantum state engineering.
