Anomalous Zeno effect for sharply localised atomic states

TL;DR

This paper investigates a non-quadratic Zeno effect in atomic states trapped between laser barriers, analyzing survival probabilities and energy distributions, with implications for current laser experiments.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of an anomalous Zeno effect in sharply localized atomic states and derives relations between survival and escape probabilities.

Findings

Identification of the Zeno time scale for atomic states

Relation between survival and non-escape probabilities

Feasibility of observing the effect with current laser technology

Abstract

We analyse non-quadratic in time Zeno effect which arises when a few-atom state initially trapped between two high laser-induced barriers is briefly released to free evolution. We identify the Zeno time, analyse the energy distributions of those atoms which have escaped an remained inside the trap, and obtain a simple relation between the survival and non-escape probabilities. The relevant time scales are such that the effect would be observable for the atomic species used in current laser experiments.