Quantum Paddlewheel with Ultracold Atoms in Waveguides

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum pump emulating a paddlewheel using ultracold atoms in waveguides, exploring its dynamics, energy flow, and scattering properties through various theoretical approaches.

Contribution

It presents a novel quantum paddlewheel device with detailed analysis of its dynamics and scattering behavior, bridging quantum and classical perspectives.

Findings

Energy flow can occur with or without particle transport.

Unusual spectral features like nonuniform Floquet side-bands are observed.

Counter-intuitive scattering phenomena are identified.

Abstract

We propose and study a quantum pump which emulates a traditional paddlewheel, that can be implemented with ultracold atoms in waveguides. We use wavepacket propagation to study its single-mode dynamics, which also determines its multimode current for mesoscopic setups. Energy flow with or without particle transport is possible. The spectrum reveals unusual features such as nonuniform Floquet side-bands and counter-intuitive scattering. Explanations are found by examining the scattering dynamics comparatively using quantum, classical and semiclassical pictures, indicating a rich system and experimentally accessible method to explore quantum versus classical dynamics.