Diverse classical walking of a single atom in an amplitude-modulated standing wave lattice

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex classical motion of a single atom in an amplitude-modulated standing wave lattice, revealing diverse dynamic behaviors beyond quantum effects through an effective model.

Contribution

It introduces a simple effective model to analyze various classical atomic motion regimes in an amplitude-modulated optical lattice, highlighting behaviors beyond quantum descriptions.

Findings

Identification of multiple dynamic regimes including harmonic oscillation, chaotic transport, and ballistic motion.

Demonstration of complex atomic trajectories in a modulated optical lattice.

Analysis of atomic motion beyond quantum effects in a classical framework.

Abstract

The classical walking behaviors of a single atom in an amplitude-modulated standing wave lattice beyond the internal dynamics are investigated. Based on a simple effective model, we identify a diversity of dynamic regimes of atomic motion by periodically adjusting the lattice depth. Harmonic oscillation or pendulum rotation with classical step-jumping, random scattering walking, chaotic transportation, quasi-periodic trapped motion and roughly ballistic free flying are found in this simple model within different parametric regions by approximate analyses. Our study demonstrates a complex motion of single atom in modulating optical lattice beyond the quantum description.