Coupling between internal spin dynamics and external degrees of freedom in the presence of colored noise

TL;DR

This paper investigates how colored noise influences spin transitions in magnetically trapped atoms, revealing the interplay between internal spin states and external potentials, with implications for quantum control.

Contribution

It demonstrates the dependence of spin-flip asymmetry on noise spectral shape, highlighting a novel coupling mechanism between internal and external atomic degrees of freedom.

Findings

Asymmetric transition rates depend on noise spectral shape

Different trap levels experience distinct potentials

Insights into noise control of atomic states

Abstract

We observe asymmetric transition rates between Zeeman levels (spin-flips) of magnetically trapped atoms. The asymmetry strongly depends on the spectral shape of an applied noise. This effect follows from the interplay between the internal states of the atoms and their external degrees of freedom, where different trapped levels experience different potentials. Such insight may prove useful for controlling atomic states by the introduction of noise, as well as provide a better understanding of the effect of noise on the coherent operation of quantum systems.