Atom Optics Quantum Pendulum

TL;DR

This paper models cold atom dynamics in a standing wave as a nonlinear quantum pendulum, revealing wave packet behaviors like classical periods and quantum revivals, with potential-independent reconstruction at revival times.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum pendulum model for cold atom dynamics in a standing wave, highlighting potential-independent quantum revival phenomena.

Findings

Observation of classical period and quantum revival regimes.

Quantum revival times lead to potential-independent wave packet reconstruction.

Demonstration of super revival phenomena in the quantum pendulum.

Abstract

We explain the dynamics of cold atoms, initially trapped and cooled in a magneto-optic trap, in a monochromatic stationary standing electromagnetic wave field. In the large detuning limit the system is modeled as a nonlinear quantum pendulum. We show that wave packet evolution of the quantum particle probes parametric regimes in the quantum pendulum which support classical period, quantum mechanical revival and super revival phenomena. Interestingly, complete reconstruction in particular parametric regime at quantum revival times is independent of potential height.