Localization of the relative phase via measurements

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how measurements induce phase localization in overlapping Bose-Einstein condensates, providing an analytical explanation for the breaking of relative phase symmetry after multiple detection events.

Contribution

It offers an analytical demonstration of measurement-induced phase localization in Bose-Einstein condensates, extending previous models.

Findings

Phase gets localized after many detection events

Measurement induces breaking of phase symmetry

Analytical model supports previous numerical results

Abstract

When two independently-prepared Bose-Einstein condensates are released from their corresponding traps, the absorbtion image of the overlapping clouds presents an interference pattern. Here we analyze a model introduced by Javanainen and Yoo (J. Javanainen and S. M. Yoo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 161 (1996)), who considered two atomic condensates described by plane waves propagating in opposite directions. We present an analytical argument for the measurement-induced breaking of the relative phase symmetry in this system, demonstrating how the phase gets localized after a large enough number of detection events.