Quantum measures for density correlations in optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum measure based on coherent-like states to describe density correlations in optical lattices, revealing differences from standard mean value approaches that can be experimentally tested.

Contribution

It proposes a new quantum measure for density correlations in optical lattices that differs from traditional mean value methods, providing a more accurate theoretical description.

Findings

Density patterns differ from standard mean value calculations.

The new measure can be tested experimentally.

Provides a more precise description of density correlations.

Abstract

The density-density correlation profiles obtained superimposing absorption images from atomic clouds freely expanding after the release of the confining optical lattice can be theoretically described in terms of a generalized quantum measure based on coherent-like states. We show that the corresponding density patterns differ in a testable way from those computed using standard many-body mean values, usually adopted in fitting experimental data.