Dynamical tunneling of a Bose-Einstein condensate in periodically driven systems

TL;DR

This paper experimentally measures dynamical tunneling rates of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a periodically driven system, specifically in quantum accelerator modes of the kicked rotor, supported by simulations and predictions for observable tunneling.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental measurement of dynamical tunneling rates in a Bose-Einstein condensate within a periodically driven system, demonstrating experimental accessibility.

Findings

Measured dynamical tunneling rates across a phase space barrier.

Supported experimental data with numerical simulations including imperfections.

Predicted parameter ranges for observing direct tunneling with reduced spontaneous emission.

Abstract

We report measurements of dynamical tunneling rates of a Bose-Einstein condensate across a barrier in classical phase space. The atoms are initially prepared in quantum states that extend over a classically regular island region. We focus on the specific system of quantum accelerator modes of the kicked rotor in the presence of gravity. Our experimental data is supported by numerical simulations taking into account imperfections mainly from spontaneous emission. Furthermore, we predict experimentally accessible parameter ranges over which direct tunneling could be readily observed if spontaneous emission was further suppressed. Altogether, we provide a proof-of-principle for the experimental accessibility of dynamical tunneling rates in periodically driven systems.