Coherent Backscattering of Ultracold Matter Waves: Momentum Space Signatures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that coherent backscattering in ultracold matter waves reveals phase coherence and transport properties, enabling the study of the transition from diffusion to Anderson localization through momentum space analysis.

Contribution

It introduces analytical and numerical methods to identify CBS peaks in momentum distributions, linking them to transport times and localization phenomena.

Findings

CBS peaks are observable in momentum space of ultracold matter waves.

The CBS peak's time dependence indicates the transition from diffusion to localization.

Momentum distribution analysis allows direct measurement of transport times.

Abstract

Using analytical and numerical methods, it is shown that the momentum distribution of a matter wave packet launched in a random potential exhibits a pronounced coherent backscattering (CBS) peak. By analyzing the momentum distribution, key transport times can be directly measured. The CBS peak can be used to prove that transport occurs in the phase-coherent regime, and measuring its time dependence permits monitoring the transition from classical diffusion to Anderson localization.