Cold atom dynamics in non-Abelian gauge fields

TL;DR

This paper explores the behavior of ultracold atoms in non-Abelian gauge fields, proposing an experimental setup, analyzing the non-Abelian Aharonov-Bohm effect, and discussing intrinsic non-Abelian effects in atomic wavepacket dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a simple experimental scheme to generate constant non-Abelian gauge fields and analyzes their effects on cold atom dynamics and wavepacket behavior.

Findings

Proposal of a feasible experimental scheme for non-Abelian gauge fields

Analysis of the non-Abelian Aharonov-Bohm effect in cold atoms

Discussion of intrinsic non-Abelian effects in atomic wavepacket dynamics

Abstract

The dynamics of ultracold neutral atoms subject to a non-Abelian gauge field is investigated. In particular we analyze in detail a simple experimental scheme to achieve a constant, but non-Abelian gauge field, and discuss in the frame of this gauge field the non-Abelian Aharanov-Bohm effect. In the last part of this paper, we discuss intrinsic non-Abelian effects in the dynamics of cold atomic wavepackets.