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How an interacting many-body system tunnels through a potential barrier to open space
Axel U J Lode1, Alexej I Streltsov, Kaspar Sakmann
1Theoretische Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. axel.lode@pci.uni-heidelberg.de
Summary
Quantum many-body tunneling in ultracold atomic gases reveals particle decay as a quantum interference of single-particle tunneling. This study offers insights into complex quantum phenomena and their applications.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Mechanics
- Atomic Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Quantum tunneling is fundamental to many natural phenomena, including nuclear and biological processes.
- Describing many-body tunneling theoretically is challenging due to complex interactions and numerous particles.
- Ultracold atomic gases provide a controllable system for studying quantum many-body phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate quantum many-body tunneling in a one-dimensional ultracold atomic gas.
- To analyze the dissociation and fragmentation of particles from a coherent source.
- To understand the role of many-body correlations in tunneling processes.
Main Methods:
- Numerical exact solution of the Schrödinger equation for a one-dimensional system.
- Analysis of a system with repulsive interactions tunneling to open space.
- Study of a coherent source of bosons.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of particle dissociation and fragmentation from a trapped coherent source.
- Identification of the many-body decay process as a quantum interference of single-particle tunneling.
- Observation of simultaneous tunneling from sources with varying particle numbers.
Conclusions:
- Quantum many-body tunneling in ultracold gases is governed by quantum interference.
- Many-body correlations are crucial for understanding atom lasers and ionization processes.
- This research provides a transparent model for complex quantum decay phenomena.
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