Coherent transport of atomic wave packets in amplitude-modulated vertical optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates controlled transport and localization of ultra-cold atoms in a modulated optical lattice, enabling reversible switching and potential applications in precise force measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a method for dynamical control of atomic wave packet transport using amplitude modulation and coherent tunneling in optical lattices.

Findings

Reversible switching between localization and transport of atoms.

Implementation of a matter-wave mirror independent of momentum state.

Potential for high-precision force measurements at micrometric scales.

Abstract

We report on the realization of dynamical control of transport for ultra-cold Sr88 atoms loaded in an accelerated and amplitude-modulated 1D optical lattice. We tailor the energy dispersion of traveling wave packets and reversibly switch between Wannier-Stark localization and driven transport based on coherent tunneling. Within a Loschmidt-echo scheme where the atomic group velocities are reversed at once, we demonstrate a novel mirror for matter waves working independently of the momentum state and discuss possible applications to force measurements at micrometric scales.